ECS Refining’s collection network, “ecollective,” has collected more than 13 million pounds of e-waste since its launch in October 2010, the company announced. The company now has 300 e-waste dropoff locations throughout California.

“We’re extremely pleased with the success of the ecollective program, which is fulfilling a valuable role at both the state and local levels,” said Jim Taggart, president of ECS Refining. “We’re continually adding new ecollective locations to our network to make it even easier for anyone to get rid of unwanted electronics. And, we’ve opened a state-of-the-art recycling plant in Stockton that will enable us to better refine e-waste into its constituent parts, ready for re-use by manufacturers.”

ECS Refining is a recycling and end-of-life services company specializing in electronics, industrial equipment and hazardous wastes. For more information about our operations and the latest news from ECS Refining, visit http://myecollective.com or http://www.ecsrefining.com/

PLAINFIELD, Ind.– Electronic Recyclers has received official letters of registration and certification from independent auditor QMI-SAI Global that ERI’s Plainfield, Indiana location is now officially a certified ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 facility.

The International Organization for Standardization sets global standards for business, government and society. The ISO 14001 certification addresses environmental management. Receiving approval in this area indicates that ERI has successfully met or exceeded international standards in the areas of minimizing harmful effects on the environment caused by its activities, and has achieved evidence of continual improvement of its environmental performance.

The OHSAS 18001 certification is an Occupation Health and Safety Assessment Standard for health and safety management systems. It is intended to help organizations control occupational health and safety risks. It was developed in response to widespread demand for a recognized standard against which to be certified and assessed.

“It is an honor and of great importance to us at ERI that our new Indiana facility in Plainfield has been recognized as an ISO and OHSAS certified organization,” said John Shegerian, ERI’s Chairman and CEO. “We are a green organization to the core and have consistently strived since we started ERI to find new ways to reduce our emissions while providing the safest possible work environment for the employees we hire — so being ISO and OHSAS certified in two such important categories is particularly meaningful to us. It is also proof and assurance to our customers that we safely operate our facility in an environmentally sustainable manner. We will exhibit our letters of certification at our Plainfield facility with great pride, as we do in all our facilities!”

For more information on recycling needs, visit www.electronicrecyclers.com, http://1800recycling.com or www.urbanmining.org.

E-Waste Systems, Inc., a London-based electronics recycling company looking to expand into the U.S. market, has appointed Ghassan Saade as Executive Consultant to oversee implementation of Fair Trade Recycling Solutions outside U.S. borders.

An established international businessman with 30 years of expertise in the technology and telecommunication industries, Mr. Saade has continually formed and fostered relationships with multi-national organizations to expand business throughout the Middle East, northern Africa and Europe, EWSI said. In his new role with EWSI, he will be responsible for strengthening government relations and business development to advance Fair Trade e-waste solutions throughout nations in these regions.

“I, along with the extended EWSI team, am pleased to have Ghassan Saade join our company. E-waste problems are not confined by national boundaries and every country needs to implement end-of-life solutions to combat this environmental issue. Under our combined direction, Mr. Saade’s close government connections will enable us to garner support needed to instate Fair Trade, turnkey recycling operations in regions throughout the Middle East, northern Africa and Europe. We look forward to teaming together on these important initiatives,” said Martin Nielson of EWSI.

“Throughout my tenure in international business relations, I always sought to create transactions that benefit both countries involved in impending deals. With EWSI, I not only have the opportunity to positively impact nations seeking to manage their e-waste solutions, but also, preserve the future of our planet. I am proud to join the EWSI team and am eager to liaise with foreign governments regarding Fair Trade e-waste solutions,” said Saade.

Mr. Saade will be paramount in executing EWSI’s Fair Trade approach. He will be responsible for advancing e-waste solutions with governments in which he has prior relations, beginning with Malta, Italy, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Saade will work to secure volume contracts, permitted sites, and local government support and financing so that EWSI can institute turnkey end-of-life solutions in these countries, consistent with the company’s compliance principles. In return for these government guarantees, EWSI will commission its Fair Trade-based, integrated e-waste plant, offering a full solution to the local electronic waste problem, the company said.

For more information visit ewastesystems.com.