Infrastructure
Next useful life
Microsoft Circular Centers are dedicated areas within key datacenter campuses where we route and process decommissioned servers and hardware components to their next useful lives, such as internal reuse, other electronic supply chains, or academies that train datacenter technicians.
Sensitive information
When devices are decommissioned, any storage device containing customer data is shredded before it leaves the datacenter, by datacenter employees following strict and auditable security processes.
Intelligent Disposition and Routing
The Circular Centers' reverse supply chain management solution uses Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform to plan for every component with an optimized path for decommissioned hardware.
Internal Reuse
Servers are harvested for valuable parts such as processors and memory which can be reused in Microsoft datacenters as spare components. Launched in 2023, this internal reuse program tripled its volume in 2024, and continues to expand to include new server components.
Recycle and Reuse
Circular Centers are an innovative initiative for cloud supply chain allowing Microsoft to reach its target of 90% reuse and recycling of servers and cloud hardware components a year early.
Scale
A Circular Center can process up to 12,000 decommissioned servers per month.
Recycle and Reuse
Recycled parts from decommissioned servers are finding a second life in schools, electronic toys, gaming systems, or back to suppliers for reuse.
Built-in security controls
Microsoft ensures integrity and security of customer data through all lifecycle stages, including during reuse and recycling.
The Circular Center
Microsoft Circular Centers are helping to deliver towards our commitment on Zero Waste by processing and routing decommissioned servers and hardware components from datacenters to their next useful lives. By integrating circularity into cloud supply chain planning, our Circular Centers initiative defines and optimizes for sustainable paths for every hardware part into and out of our datacenters globally.
Introducing the AI Assistant
You can ask the AI assistant questions about how we design, build and operate our datacenters with innovations around security, reliability, and sustainability.
This assistant uses AI and may contain mistakes. Please verify referenced source material as needed.
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