Old computers, mobile phones, and data centre servers make up the world’s fastest-growing waste stream. But less than one-quarter of electronic waste is collected and given a second life, according to the United Nations’ 2024 Global E-Waste Monitor.
The e-waste problem is particularly acute in Southeast Asia, a region that has become both a major producer and recipient of the world’s discarded technology. Between 2023 and 2025, the regional bloc received over 10,000 containers of discarded electronics – valued at more than US$1 billion – from the United States alone, an investigation by waste advocacy group Basel Action Network (BAN) found in October.
As digital adoption across Southeast Asia accelerates, so too does the churn of devices, from personal gadgets to enterprise-scale hardware. The environmental and social toll of discarded electronics is considerable: toxic metals and plastics from landfilled gadgets leak into soil and waterways, while informal recyclers are exposed to heavy metals and toxic organic compounds released as they recover precious materials such as copper and gold.
Yet Southeast Asia’s growing e-waste burden also points to an overlooked opportunity. Rather than treating used electronics as scrap to be melted down or buried, extending their usable life through repair, refurbishment, and responsible data destruction offers a better path. Reuse keeps carbon-intensive devices in circulation, reduces the need for new manufacturing, and provides more affordable technology to communities and small businesses. It also supports skilled jobs in diagnostics, data sanitisation, and hardware recovery – sectors that could anchor a more circular, service-oriented economy in Southeast Asia.
This “reuse first” mindset is central to the mission of Arkiva, a Singapore-based company specialising in secure data destruction and laptop repair. Arkiva works with corporations, government agencies, and individuals to give aging devices a second life while ensuring that sensitive data does not fall into the wrong hands. Arkiva supports reuse culture in Singapore and the wider region – Singaporeans replace their mobile phone every 2.7 years, much faster than the global average of 3.5 years – by restoring used machines to full functionality, and reintroducing them into the market.
In this interview with Eco-Business, Arkiva founder CH Toh discusses the misconceptions that persist around recycling versus re-use, the challenges of convincing consumers to repair instead of replace, and why Singapore needs a stronger reuse culture.
Explain how your company takes an old laptop and turns it into a working machine.
We work with both individual end users and corporates. The first thing we do is run data-erasure software on the laptop to ensure that the device is completely clean of all data. We then generate a certificate of erasure, and only after that can refurbishment begin.
The process starts by sorting the working and non-working laptops. We pick out the working ones and identify any minor issues they may have – for instance, a missing keyboard button or a scratched surface. We then refurbish the devices and install software so that they are ready for use. For the non-working laptops – which may have faults such as a broken motherboard or cracked screen – we replace the missing or damaged parts so that the machines are fully functional again.
The remaining laptops that are too old to refurbish, such as Pentium 2 and 3 models, are sent to a third party for recycling.
What proportion of the laptops sent to Arkiva are working and non-working?
In Singapore, an estimated 80 per cent of the laptops we take in are in good working condition, with only cosmetic issues like scratches. About five to 10 per cent have parts missing that we can replace for reuse, and the remaining 5–10 per cent are too old to reuse – so are sent for recycling.
What are the biggest technical or logistical challenges in repurposing used laptops?
We collect around 50 to 100 laptops at a time. The main challenge is keeping them in good condition when moving them from the client’s offices to our warehouse – sometimes bumps in the road can cause cracks or damage. Technically, there are few issues we can’t resolve, although some security features may permanently lock laptops, especially Apple devices that can only be unlocked by Apple staff.
How do you ensure data security while keeping the hardware intact for reuse?
We speak to the client to ensure they are comfortable with their devices being reused after data erasure. There is a secure chain of custody throughout the process. When our collection team picks up the laptops, the client signs off each device against a unique serial number. When the laptops arrive at our warehouse, the serial numbers are tracked by our IT team. We use certified software to wipe the hard drives according to the NIST 800-88 international standard. After wiping is complete, certificates of data sanitisation are generated for each device.
Some customers are still not comfortable even after the drive has been wiped, so for them we physically destroy the hard drives. We use a machine with 24 blades that crushes devices into small pieces.
A hard drive being destroyed by a grinding machine. Image: Arkiva
What misconceptions do people have about recycling versus re-use when it comes to electronics in Singapore?
As a consumer-driven culture, most people prefer to buy new rather than refurbished laptops. Many genuinely want to do the right thing but are not properly educated on how. Most think that throwing their devices into an e-waste recycling bin is the only solution and are unaware of the potential for refurbishing and reselling their gadgets.
Why is reuse a more sustainable option to recycling?
The environmental benefits are clear. Reuse directly reduces demand for new products, conserving raw materials and energy, and prevents waste from entering the recycling stream in the first place. Recycling e-waste in Southeast Asia is often done informally, where low-paid workers rarely use protective gear and are exposed to hazardous pollutants. Injuries are common. That side of the recycling story is not told enough – and it’s often out of sight, out of mind once devices are dropped into an e-waste bin.
There are also compelling economic benefits. When a company does an IT refresh every few years, it incurs significant costs, whether for data erasure or recycling. If companies opt for reuse, they can recoup some of their IT expenses by selling their used laptops.
A pile of laptops await refurbishment at Arkiva. Image: Arkiva
How can corporations be persuaded to prioritise re-use over recycling in their IT asset management?
Most large companies already have processes to manage their IT waste. Smaller firms, however, need more education on the benefits of reuse. The trailblazers in this space tend to be multinationals that have strict policies that require all laptops to be wiped after use. They are happy to sell them to us, and they are typically in good condition with minimal refurbishment required.
How scalable is the re-use model – and can it realistically make a dent in Southeast Asia’s e-waste problem?
In countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, there is already a strong reuse culture, and people are happy to buy refurbished laptops. In Singapore, reuse culture is less established, but we are beginning to see a shift. Previously, most used devices were shipped to countries like Indonesia for resale, but a friend who runs a computer shop says demand for second-hand laptops in Singapore is growing – particularly among students. Every student needs a laptop, and many are prepared to buy a used model. They can get one for S$300-400 (US$230-308), around a third of the price of a new device.
But reuse alone cannot solve Southeast Asia’s e-waste problem. Other strategies are needed – for example regulation and Extended Producer Responsibility laws that oblige companies to take responsibility for electronics that have reached end of life.
What innovations or trends excite you most in the re-use and refurbishment space?
The tech-for-rent model is interesting. Users can lease a laptop on a pay-per-use basis. This is particularly useful for students or companies that hire part-time or project-based staff. The rental marketplace can help promote reuse and drive the circular economy, and it is likely to grow as flexible and remote work become more common.
Another exciting trend is the rise of certified data sanitisation tools that make reuse safer. Many organisations previously disposed of devices because of data security concerns. With internationally recognised standards like NIST 800-88 and verifiable, tamper-proof certificates of erasure, more companies are now confident they can release laptops for reuse instead of recycling them prematurely.
What does a truly circular electronics economy look like in Southeast Asia?
First, we need fewer devices produced and less waste generated. Producers should design products with longer warranties and lifecycles, and make them easier to repair. Unfortunately, many devices today are almost impossible to open, which prevents repair and reuse – a growing issue as technology adoption increases.
For a circular economy to take root, consumers must understand that refurbished devices are still highly usable. We also need more platforms for selling and buying reused devices to normalise reuse in Singapore. Material recycling must be the last resort.
