Disposing of outdated office computers, printers and copiers the right way is not only important for protecting the environment, it also staves off the efforts of data thieves. Better Business Bureau explains the three steps necessary for small business owners to dispose of old office equipment safely and securely.

Electronics contain toxic poisons such as lead, mercury and cadmium which if they are just tossed into a landfill will eventually leak out and pollute the soil and water.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 1.84 million tons of TVs, computers, printers, cell phones and other electronics were discarded primarily into landfills in 2007.  Only 18 percent of discarded electronics were recycled that year, however, the EPA notes that e-cycling is growing in popularity perhaps due to mandatory programs in some states.

“When tossing old electronics you need to consider both the environmental and data security concerns,” said Kim States, BBB President. “Computers, cell phones and copiers not only contain toxic chemicals that can pollute the environment, they also contain a wealth of information that data thieves would love to get their hands on.”

BBB recommends taking the following step to ensure that all hazardous and data sensitive office equipment is disposed of the right way:

Step 1: Identify hazardous and data-sensitive electronics

The following office equipment contain toxic materials or sensitive data and should be recycled responsibly and not just tossed into the garbage:

• Computer CPUs
• Mobile phones
• Copiers, Printers and Fax Machines
• Monitors, Keyboards, Speakers and Mice (more…)

College students have enough to juggle when it comes to school, work and their social life and fighting fraud often doesn’t make the list of priorities. Because college students are so susceptible to identity theft, Better Business Bureau recommends that they take seven simple steps to protect themselves on campus.

According to the 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report released by Javelin Strategy and Research, more than 11 million people became victims of identity theft in 2009. Young adults aged 18-24 took the longest to detect identity theft—132 days on average—when compared to other age groups. Subsequently the average cost ($1,156) was roughly five times more than amount lost by other age groups.

“Identity thieves don’t care if you’re a struggling student and don’t have a penny to your name; sometimes all they want is to exploit your clean credit record,” said Kim States, BBB President. “Young adults that establish good habits for monitoring and detecting fraud are laying a path that will help create a healthy financial road for the rest of their lives.”

BBB recommends that college-bound students take the following seven steps to fight identity theft on campus:

• School mailboxes are not always secure and can often be easily accessed in a dorm or apartment. (more…)

Buying a car without doing your homework is like a game of chance.  Make sure you’re prepared before upgrading your old clunker by attending a free workshop being offered by Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona and the Pima County Library on Thursday, Sept. 2 from 12 to 1 p.m.

In this fun, interactive workshop, you’ll learn what to research before entering the dealership, what to look for during the test drive, what information to provide to obtain the best deal, what is included in the final cost of a car purchase, and whether a trade in is the best option for your old vehicle.

The free class will be held at Pima County Public Library, 101 Stone Ave., in the Joel D. Valdez Meeting Room. View Map

The course is part of the Pima Library Food for Thought Series, so attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch. Call 594-5500 for more information.