Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:
WM), one of the largest waste services and residential recycling companies in North America, today announced that all seven of its eCycling facilities have earned certification to the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment®. By operating seven e-Stewards-certified eCycling facilities, WM Recycle America further strengthens its position as a leader in recycling services. The e-Stewards® certification program, created by the Basel Action Network (BAN), formally recognizes electronics recyclers that adhere to BAN’s stringent environmentally and socially responsible practices when recovering e-waste containing hazardous components.
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Older electronics may contain potentially harmful materials such as lead, mercury and cadmium, but also contain valuable materials that can be reclaimed for use in new devices. To help ensure proper handling of this e-waste, this certification requires participating companies to implement an environmental, health and safety management system that tracks materials and helps reduce emissions and worker exposure during electronics recycling operations. Companies must exercise due diligence to help ensure safe and accountable handling of e-waste throughout the recycling chain, both domestically and internationally.
“Residents and businesses demand more recycling services and options. Waste Management meets those needs with a myriad of recycling solutions. Recycling is a strategic part of our business portfolio and we are at the leading edge of pulling value from the recycling material waste stream. We view waste not as garbage, but instead as a valuable resource,” said Pat DeRueda, president of WM Recycle America. “We see eCycling as a fundamental service, and e-Stewards certification is independent validation of our commitment to responsible eCycling. By operating e-Stewards-certified eCycling facilities, Waste Management is able to provide our customers with environmentally conscientious recycling services.”
e-Stewards certification is the only e-recycler certification endorsed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Sierra Club, Greenpeace USA, the Electronics TakeBack Coalition and 68 other environmental organizations. It has also drawn the public support of major corporate e-Stewards Enterprises, including Alcoa, Samsung, Bank of America, Capital One Financial Corp., LG Electronics and Wells Fargo.
The e-Stewards standard prevents the export of e-waste containing hazardous components to developing countries and does not allow the use of prison labor to manage toxic e-waste, or the landfilling or incineration of toxic e-waste. It also requires strict protection of customers’ data and occupational health and safety controls to protect workers involved in the recycling of this material.
“Certification of WM Recycle America’s seven eCycling service centers is a very important addition to the e-Stewards U.S. footprint, putting responsible e-recycling in reach of many more individuals and organizations,” said BAN Executive Director Jim Puckett. “WM Recycle America’s eCycling certifications also support their partnership with LG, the first global e-Stewards Enterprise having committed to using certified e-Stewards recyclers to ensure their corporate asset management and take-back efforts are globally sustainable.”
Electronics recycling is a fast-growing industry that creates high-paying, green jobs and boosts the U.S. and global economy. According to the 2011 Electronics Recycling Industry Survey®, the U.S. electronics recycling industry continues to show tremendous growth and strong domestic capacity. The $5-billion-a-year industry, which employs more than 30,000 full-time workers in the U.S., collected and processed over 3.5 million tons of used and end-of-life electronics equipment in 2010, up from 1.8 million tons in 2009.
WM Recycle America’s adoption of the e-Steward standard is a continuation of the company’s dedication to stringent e-waste processing standards. In 2002, the company developed and published its own electronics-recycling stewardship pledge to protect workers and the environment. Additionally, to encourage consumers to dispose of electronic devices in an environmentally sound manner, in 2007 WM Recycle America established an extensive network of drop-off locations. WM Recycle America has also joined forces with LG Electronics USA and other manufacturers in comprehensive programs that enable consumers to recycle their unwanted LG, Zenith and GoldStar branded devices at no cost. Becoming a certified e-Stewards recycler supports Waste Management’s ongoing sustainability program, particularly its commitment to manage 20 million tons of recyclables by 2020.
In support of America Recycles Day held on November 15, Waste Management is hosting a series of activities nationwide, including facility tours, educational efforts with Keep America Beautiful and a partner event with Anheuser- Busch at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. To learn more and take the recycling pledge, visit www.americarecyclesday.org. Please also share the creative ways in which you are recycling on our Facebook Page or Twitter handle (@WasteManagement).
ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is one of the leading providers of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also one of the largest residential recyclers and a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill-gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more about Waste Management visit www.wm.com orwww.thinkgreen.com.
WM Recycle America, L.L.C. is a subsidiary of Waste Management and is one of the largest recyclers in North America. WM Recycle America’s business lines include processing many types of consumer-generated recyclables and finding the best markets for the recyclable commodities produced. In its capacity of providing processing and marketing services, WM Recycle America offers a wide variety of recycling options for municipal, manufacturing, commercial and residential customers.
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Proposed federal legislation to restrict export of toxic electronic waste (e-waste) from the U.S. will spur expansion of the domestic recycling industry and create tens of the thousands of new jobs, leaders of the Coalition For American Electronics Recycling said yesterday. The coalition consists of 29 companies with 74 facilities involved in e-waste recycling and disposition and all members of it’s steering committee are noticeably pledged or certified BAN e-stewards.
“The U.S. lacks a robust domestic e-waste recycling industry – and the quality jobs that come with it – because our laws promote unrestricted, unfair and unethical trade in toxic electronic scrap,” said Jim Taggart, CEO of ECS Refining. “E-waste exports not only poison the environment and people in developing countries across Asia and Africa, they limit the ability of responsible recyclers to expand our businesses and build our workforce in the U.S.”
The Responsible Electronics Recycling Act, introduced in June, would restrict toxic e-waste exports to developing countries that lack adequate safeguards for the environment and workers. The House bill is co-sponsored by Gene Green (D-TX), Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Steve LaTourette (R-OH). In the Senate, similar legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The legislation is also supported by major electronics manufacturers and retailers, including Hewlett Packard, Dell, Apple, Samsung and Best Buy, as well as the Electronics Takeback Coalition, an environmental organization.
The U.S. generated more than 3.1 million tons of e-waste in 2009, according to U.S. EPA statistics. Electronic scrap contains high concentrations of toxic materials such as lead and cadmium and is classified as hazardous by the U.S. EPA and many states. However, a large percentage of e-waste collected for “recycling” is actually exported to developing countries that lack environmental and worker safeguards.
“We need to stop exporting American jobs along with toxic e-waste,” said Robert Houghton, President of Redemtech. “For each job in exporting electronics, we can create seven good-paying jobs in our domestic recycling industry. However, domestic recyclers are at a substantial financial disadvantage to overseas recyclers with few restrictions on worker and environmental safety. By creating a level playing field, this legislation will unleash investment and job creation in our industry.”
The legislation promotes business expansion and job growth through free trade of tested, working electronics and parts; separated and properly labeled commodities recovered from electronics, such as copper, steel and aluminum; and manufacturer warranty returns for repair within the original supply chain.
“While taking action against unregulated export of hazardous materials, this legislation promotes free trade in value-added products that are critical to global success and creating jobs here in America,” said Wendy Neu, Executive Vice President of Hugo Neu Corporation. “By promoting responsible recycling, the proposed legislation will position U.S. companies as leaders in global markets.”
Current government policies are distorting the marketplace and preventing U.S. companies from meeting market demand for responsible, domestic recycling services.
“With growing awareness of the environmental risks, a majority of large U.S. companies and many consumers are asking for ‘no export’ e-waste services. However, due to unregulated exports, few qualified facilities exist in the U.S.,” said Neil Peters-Michaud, CEO of Cascade Asset Management. “The Responsible Electronics Recycling Act will enable American recyclers to rationalize investments in plant and personnel necessary to provide the services people and businesses want.”
