Most companies in Germany claim they ensure that decommissioned IT equipment is either reused or disposed of in an environmentally responsible way, according to a survey released on Tuesday by the IT industry association Bitkom.
Seventy‑four percent of respondents say they properly dispose of still‑functional devices. A third (33 %) donate old equipment to charitable causes such as school initiatives, youth projects, or to those in need. Employees are also considered: 18 % give decommissioned devices away for free to staff, while 23 % sell them at a discount to employees.
Other options include returning 28 % of devices to the leasing provider, storing 15 % for potential future use, selling 12 % to specialised service firms for refurbishment, and selling 4 % to any third party. Only 1 % of companies dispose of functioning old devices as ordinary business waste.
The figures come from a Bitkom Research survey that interviewed 603 German companies with at least 20 employees by phone. Conducted between calendar weeks 39 and 44 of 2025, the survey provides a snapshot of how firms manage outdated IT hardware.