Efficient Computing

Sustainable Server Retirement

Google is committed to deploying and maintaining sustainable data center systems. While there are no industry-wide accepted server retirement standards today,  Google's approach has been to find innovative ways to maximize the useful life of servers through dedicated reuse and recycle methods.  The program has proved to be both operationally cost-effective and environmentally responsible by extracting incremental value out of retired server hardware. The program is designed to follow a serial reuse and recycle path with a focus on maximizing value without compromising environmental or social responsibility.

1. Spares Maintenance. Redirect sub-assemblies and components to existing Google field replacement stock. This avoids the purchase of new spares for server maintenance.

2. Upgrades. Redirect components to existing Google servers for performance improvements. Again, this enables Google to bypass additional purchases of new equipment.

3. Remanufacture. Design, reassemble, and redeploy retired servers back into Google's fleet rather than manufacturing a new machine.

4. Resale/Donate. Remarket or give away Google hardware for a consumer need rather than sending equipment to a recycler.

5. Recycle. Send hardware without a consumer need in its current state to an accredited recycler for final destruction and environmentally sound disposal.

11 sustainable rules to live by

1. Take back 100% of our servers (from ourselves) for reuse/recycle
2. Minimize the hazardous waste in our servers
3. Innovate remanufactured servers back into the fleet
4. Design common parts into servers for a simple upgradeable path
5. Drive simple assembly/disassembly manufacturing process designs
6. Re-direct used parts for internal spares rather than buying new 
7. Design and reuse minimal packaging solutions
8. Minimize the electronic waste to landfill/incineration
9. No exporting of electronic waste to developing countries¹
10. Partner with recyclers with socially responsible labor practice
11. Keep driving environmentally-conscious and socially responsible practices that meet or exceed local, state, and federal laws

Making a difference

Due to a lack of industry standards on metrics, Google's Server Retirement Program is focused on a simple measurement of success: maximize reuse of machines. Currently, Google has developed internal and external channels to reuse 68% of retired machine parts with the remaining 32% directed to accredited recyclers. In 2006-2007, the national average for computer related equipment being properly processed was 23%² Google is able to reuse and recycle 100% of servers by being both the producer and consumer of the machine. This approach has a direct environmental impact by reducing the need to manufacture a new machine while in parallel avoiding sending  retired machines to a landfill. Google is working with leaders from respected NGOs, environmental academics, and sustainable vendors on how to express the true environmental impact of retired servers.

^[1] Developing countries are defined as OECD member list
^[2] US EPA's Electronic End of Life Facts Sheet