by Robin Wiener
It’s estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that up to 50 million metric tons of electronics are disposed of worldwide each year.
The evolving landscape in e-recycling is demonstrated by Provinces in Canada that are increasingly regulating business and consumer recycling practices. Alberta was the first province to launch an electronics recycling program in 2004, and has to date recycled more than four million units of computer and television equipment, according to the Alberta Recycling Management Authority. Most recently the province of Quebec enacted a new recycling fee on all purchased televisions, phones, computers and printers.
It is paramount that all companies in our industry start operating at the most responsible levels. R2/RIOS certification ensures that your company produces consistent quality materials, your employees are operating in a safe workplace, and your operations have minimal impact on the environment.
A vital benefit of the R2/RIOS certification is the assurance of the destruction of all personal and private data stored on products like hard drives, flash drives and SIM cards. Certification provides additional security for the public as it requires the life of the product to be documented – ensuring that those who have handled the equipment are accounted for. And certification documents e-waste downstream so that we know where a product ends up.
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) implements R2/RIOS, the certification program specifically designed for electronics recyclers to better their operations and meet standards to make them competitive in the global marketplace. R2/RIOS ensures that we as an industry hold ourselves accountable, not just in the quality of our products, but also in the services that we provide to the public, especially to safeguard information and the environment. And it ensures that facilities continue to function at the highest standard and undergo regular audits conducted by independent auditors.
R2/RIOS was specifically created for the electronics recycling industry. It’s the only certification of its kind that integrates a quality, environment, health and safety management system with the R2 electronics certification often demanded by large corporations. These components of a single certification mean that electronics recyclers don’t need to waste time and money obtaining multiple certifications to meet government, business and customer requirements.
Certification has truly transformed the market. Select facilities with certification have seen an increase in business, more new business opportunities and more cost efficient operations. R2/RIOS certification is an investment that is worth it. I challenge those in the electronics industry to get certified. Certification is the only way to make you more competitive, improve your bottom line and protect the public. Implement the best practices for responsible recycling: get certified.
Robin Wiener is President of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI)and serves on the board of directors of R2 Solutions, a non-profit organization established to house R2 Practices.
