R2 Solutions, a new non-profit organization, has been named to help administer the Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices, a standard for electronics recyclers, for use in accredited certification programs. R2 Solutions will play a three-prong role -- promote the use of R2, provide administrative support to the R2 Governing Council, and help educate the public about responsible electronics recycling.
R2, led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), requires recyclers to manage materials properly throughout the entire recycling process to protect the environment, human health and safety, and to prohibit illegal export of hazardous materials. The standards are supported by government, manufacturer, recycler and non-governmental organization stakeholders.
Currently, 25 e-recycler facilities have been certified to R2, including one outside the United States.
Recycling Today reports that Sims Recycling Solutions Canada recently became the first electronics recycling company in Canada to be registered to the R2 Practices.
In addition, LifeSpan Technology Recycling has achieved R2/RIOS and ISO 14001:2004 certifications at all of its North American processing facilities, making it one of only four companies nationwide to achieve both of these designations, according to the company. The company is already certified for electronic data sanitization by the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) and is a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher.
The R2/RIOS certification program combines the Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) certification developed by the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) with the Responsible Recycling (R2) practices, while ISO 14000 is a global standard for environmental management. Companies achieving R2/RIOS certification are designated as Certified Electronics Recyclers.
“Electronics recycling is becoming a critical part of the global information and communications technology industry and it’s critical a high set of standards is in place to ensure the development of a responsible industry. R2 Solutions will create the home needed for the R2 standard to continue to develop and be adopted by the technology industry,” said John Lingelbach, acting executive director for R2 Solutions.
R2 Solutions says the management and further development of the standard will be conducted transparently and there is no "pay to play" requirement for recyclers to use R2.
Basel Action Network also offers a certification program for recyclers centered on its e-Stewards Initiative to certify that electronics waste is responsibly recycled.