Extending our equipment lifecycle
From the moment we decide to purchase a piece of equipment to the moment we retire
it, we reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as we can.
We reduce by sourcing locally
Whenever possible, we use local vendors for heavier components like our server racks.
Even if material is more expensive locally, we can recoup the extra cost by reducing
shipping charges from farther locations where the material may be cheaper. By
limiting the shipping distance, we reduce the environmental impact of transportation.
We reuse existing machines
Before we buy new equipment and materials, we look for ways to reuse what we already
have. As we upgrade to newer, higher-speed servers, we repurpose older machines
either by moving them to services that don’t require as much processing power, or by
removing and reusing the components that are still in good working condition.
Since 2007, we've remanufactured and repurposed enough outdated servers to avoid
buying over 300,000 new replacement machines.
We recycle as much as we can
At each location, we maximize the recycling of all our data center material. When we
can’t repurpose our equipment, we completely erase any components that stored data,
and then resell them into the market, giving this equipment a second life. We break
down any components that can’t be sold into raw materials like copper, steel,
aluminum, and plastics for responsible recycling.