Reducing waste in power usage and unnecessary travel is an important first step in combating pollution, and the "sexiness" that green measures have acquired shows how far our society has come. We are finally beginning to take responsibility for the effect that our actions and our way of living have on our environment. Power saving, however, is not the only thing that companies can do to become environmentally responsible.
Buying used computer equipment prevents it from becoming toxic electronic waste, which makes up two percent of America's trash in landfills and an alarming seventy percent of overall toxic waste. Even recycling e-waste may be harmful; often it is done in waste processing areas in developing countries, where uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal cause environmental and health problems. Companies like UsedCisco.com are helping to reduce this problem by allowing companies to buy used network hardware without the uncertainty often associated with buying used by offering a 1-3 year warranty. Reuse is the most environmentally safe option, since it ensures that used but still working computer equipment does not contribute to the pressing problem of electronic waste.

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