Tag Archives: ewaste management

R2 Certification expands across North America and the globe

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Companies seeking Responsible Recycling (R2) certification has grown beyond the borders of North America, R2 Solutions said.

R2 Solutions is a non-profit organization formed to administer and promote the R2 Standard. R2 Solutions is responsible for promoting the standard, encouraging e-recyclers to become certified to R2, educating the public about responsible e-recycling and providing administrative support to the R2 multi-stakeholder Technical Advisory Committee.

This week Technology Conservation Group, Inc. became the first electronics recycling company to attain certification for a facility in Europe, the organization said. And with two newly-certified facilities in Mexico as well, the company joins Sims and GEEP in growing adoption of the Standard beyond the reach of the U.S., and throughout the North American continent.

“The experience of these companies in applying the principles of the R2 Standard internationally really highlights one of the Standard’s most important strengths, which is the fact that it creates a set of best practices that can be applied anywhere in the world,” notes John Lingelbach, Acting Executive Director of R2 Solutions. “And that is certainly the ultimate goal of those who support the R2 Standard, to promote responsible electronics recycling practices, for everyone, everywhere without exception.”

Under Provision 3 of the R2 Standard, recyclers are required to demonstrate conformance to all applicable national and international laws. The wording of the R2 Standard allows it to be compatible with all regulatory environments. This unique approach to incorporating regulatory compliance into the R2 Standard also means that certified recyclers are required to implement regulatory changes as they are made and the Standard is always current to those regulations. “This particular aspect of the R2 Standard makes it a very agile one that easily accommodates the evolution of regulation, and promotes continued compliance,” Lingelbach said.

In addition to the TCG facilities in Mexico and the UK, and the Sims and GEEP facilities in Canada, the list of international R2 certified facilities is expected to grow rapidly. Certification bodies report having additional facilities under contract in Asia and Europe. R2 Solutions expects to have more than 125 R2 certified recyclers listed by the end of the year, spanning at least three continents.

For more information visit www.r2solutions.org.

ERI certified e-Stewards at three primary U.S. locations

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Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), headquartered in Fresno, Ca., has achieved company-wide certification of its primary U.S. operating locations in California, Washington, Colorado and Texas to the international e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment, the Basel Action Network said. BAN added ERI is the largest recycler to date to have achieved this distinction.

John S. Shegerian

Certified e-Stewards Recyclers, such as ERI, have been extensively audited by accredited third-party Certification Bodies to ensure that all requirements of the Standard have been met.

The e-Stewards Standard, created by BAN in conjunction with industry leaders and health and environmental specialists, requires recyclers to eliminate exports of hazardous e-wastes to developing countries; to halt the dumping of such wastes in municipal landfills or incinerators; and to cease the use of captive prison populations to manage toxic e-wastes. It also calls for strict protection of private data and occupational health safeguards to ensure that workers in recycling plants are not exposed to toxic dusts and fumes.

“The e-Stewards Standard is a market differentiator in an industry that needs one badly,” said Jim Puckett, Founder of the Basel Action Network.  “If you care about security of your data, and the impacts of toxic substances in electronic waste on workers here at home and in developing countries, then you will choose to be held to this gold standard of environmental and social responsibility and you will accept no substitutes.”

Certification body QMI-SAI Global conducted the ERI audits that independently determined every one of ERI’s current facilities to be operating within the parameters set by the e-Stewards Standard. ERI reported that their three newest locations, in Indiana, Massachusetts and North Carolina, are also on schedule to be certified by the end of August, 2011.

“We are extremely proud to have met the strictest standards of environmental and operational excellence,” said John S. Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of ERI. “We strongly support BAN’s certified, third-party audited program and will proudly display our e-Steward Certification documents at each our locations.”

Shegerian also noted that ERI continues to see steady growth and will soon be expanding nationally and internationally.  As each facility becomes operational they will likewise become audited and certified.

Fresno-headquartered Electronic Recyclers International is licensed to de-manufacture and recycle televisions, computer monitors, computers, and other types of electronic equipment. ERI processes more than 140 million pounds of electronic waste annually at its locations in California, Washington, Colorado, and Texas.  For more information about e-waste recycling and ERI, call 1-800-884-8466 or visit http://www.electronicrecyclers.com.

Intercon Solutions denied e-Stewards certification by BAN & delisted by R2 Solutions

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Intercon Solutions, of Chicago Heights, Ill., has been denied the e-Stewards certification by the Basel Action Network and delisted from the list of R2 certified companies by R2 Solutions, administer of the Responsible Recycling standard.

The company was also listed as a company that pledged to become an e-Steward and, according to BAN, was in the process of applying for certification.

BAN’s e-Stewards certification, among other requirements, prohibits the exportation of non-working electronics to developing nations. Jim Puckett, director of BAN, said the organization had proof the company attempted to export two containers of waste CRTs to China through Hong Kong.

“It is very sad that many e-Waste recycling companies continue to pose as “responsible recyclers” while they continue to export toxic,” said Basel Action Network’s Executive Director, Jim Puckett. “In this case, we can take some satisfaction that our e-Stewards Certification screening methods and audit caught what BAN has every reason to believe is a violator.”

“R2 Solutions is communicating with the certification body (CB) that certified Intercon Solutions.  The CB will undergo an assessment of the matter and determine an appropriate course of action,” according to a press release issued by R2 Solutions. “R2 Solutions took this action after reviewing information strongly suggesting Intercon Solutions violated key provisions of the R2 Standard.  R2 Solutions took this “delisting” action pending consideration of the matter by the R2 Solutions Board of Directors, which will occur later this week. This information was gathered by the Basel Action Network and shared with R2 Solutions.  It documents alleged violations of law concerning the export of Focus Materials. The Basel Action Network derived its information from observations, shipment tracking, and communications with the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department.

The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

For more information visit: www.ban.org, www.e-Stewards.org and www.r2solutions.org.

 

Hawaiian DEH recognizes cleanup by E-World Online

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The Hawaii Department of Environmental Health has recognized and thanked E-World Online, of Vista, Ca., after the mainland e-waste recycler organized an effort to collect, ship and recycle 180,000 pounds of e-waste abandoned at a former collection site in Hilo, Hawaii.

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/sections/news/local-news/e-waste-overwhelms-drop-site.html

WILLIAM ING/Tribune-Herald Trying to make "no dumping" signage visible once again, Bay Side Computer Shop employee John Frost climbs Thursday atop a mound of e-waste cluttering the front entrance of the Kukuau Street business. He says he's made an effort to put out anti-dumping signs, but people keep concealing the warnings with their castoff electronics.

 

Bay Side Computer Shop, in Hilo, had a contract with the state of Hawaii to collect and recycle e-waste. However, after the contract expired nearly a year ago Big Island residents continued to drop e-waste at the site. With no space left to accept additional e-waste and no money to ship the massive stockpile to the mainland for recycling, the shop was forced to close. Still, residents continued to dump scrap computers and televisions at the site.

After reading an article about Bay Side Computer Shop’s dilemma in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald last May, E-World Online organized its manufacturing partners, Sony Electronics Inc., Acer America Corp., ViewSonic, NEC and LG, to fund the collection, shipping and recycling of the abandoned 180,000 pounds of e-waste dumped at the former collection site.

E-World Online and its manufacturing partners purchased the electronics surplus from Bay Side and paid the per-container cost to ship it from Hawaii to Vista, Calif. Additionally, E-World Online processed the material at its parent facility, E-World Recyclers.

“We purchased all of the e-waste on the site, and we also paid the cost of shipping to the mainland,” said E-World Online President Cindy Erie. “The state is in the middle of a change in how e-waste collection and recycling is handled, and E-World and our manufacturing partners wanted to help smooth the transition by ensuring this e-waste did not fall between the cracks. Plus, we wanted to help out a small business. Bay Side Computer Shop was in a tough position.”

“The Department of Health is pleased that E-World Online stepped up to take this e-waste from the Big Island. We are hopeful that other recyclers and manufacturers will follow E-world Online’s lead and provide collection services on the neighbor islands,” Steven Chang, Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch Chief, said in a statement to E-World Online.

E-World Online administers the electronics recycling programs of several manufacturers across the U.S. Its proprietary, web-based Manufacturer Interstate Take-Back System (MITS) uses a network of collection points and recyclers across the country to make e-waste recycling easy for consumers while fulfilling the manufacturers’ responsibilities.

New Hawaiian state laws require manufacturers of electronic equipment collect a certain amount of e-waste per year but provide multiple and convenient ways for consumers to recycle unwanted or non-working electronics. To date, 49 Hawaii-based recyclers have agreed to process e-waste under the legislation, but nearly all accept e-waste only on Oahu, requiring Big Islanders to pay shipping expenses.

For more information on MITS and E-World Online, visit www.e-worldonline.com or call (877) 342-6756.

Maine’s free e-waste recycling law expands to include schools, small businesses

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Legislation that expands Maine’s current electronics recycling program became law June 8. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Walsh Innes, D-Yarmouth, allows Maine’s schools, non-profits, and small businesses with 100 or fewer employees to recycle their old electronics at no disposal cost to them. Currently, free e-waste recycling was only available to residents.

“The unanimous passage of the bill signals that the Maine Legislature is committed to protecting our environment while also creating jobs,” Innes said. “Product stewardship initiatives, like the bottle bill, create jobs by turning today’s trash into tomorrow’s products, and save taxpayers money by privatizing the waste stream to benefit society.”

The expansion of the product stewardship law will save money for Maine businesses, non-profits and schools and will reduce toxic ewaste going into Maine’s incinerators and landfills. In addition, an estimated 16-18 new jobs will be created at an electronics recycling facility in Auburn, Innes said.

“This program marries the needs of small businesses and schools, and organizations that operate under tight financial conditions, with protecting Maine’s most important resource, its environment,” said Rick Dumas, Chief Executive Officer of eWaste Recycling Solutions, a company that provides safe and environmentally sound disassembly, consolidation and transportation services for recycling and disposal of electronic devices such as computer and television monitors as well as many other products categorized as e-waste under local, state and federal law. Centrally located in Auburn, eWaste Recycling Solutions have the only Maine based de-manufacturing facility of companies approved by the Department of Environmental Protection.

“It is a clear demonstration of the business and environmental communities, government, regulators and educators coming together for the good of our state, and the immediate result is that eWaste Recycling Solutions will create 16-18 “green-collar” jobs. LD 981 is a win-win for every party that has been involved with the process,” said Dumas.

“This legislation is a victory for Maine’s economy and our environment,” said Matt Prindiville, Clean Production Project Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “Not only will this bill grow jobs and reduce costs for small businesses, it will also keep millions of pounds of toxic materials out of Maine’s environment by recycling more electronics into new products.”

“Since 2004, this manufacturer financed program has recycled over 30 million pounds of electronics, 30 million pounds that most likely would have ended up in our landfills or burned in our energy plants, spewing toxic fumes into our air,” said Rep. Innes. “Not only will this bill help protect our environment, but it will create much needed jobs as well.”

Patricia Aho, Deputy Commissioner of DEP said, “We were pleased to be able to work collaboratively and cooperatively to facilitate opportunities for small businesses here in Maine.”

For more on e-waste management in Maine, visit http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/ewaste/

An advertisement used to promote Maine's electronics recycling law.

 

FCM partners with Toronto Zoo to recycle cell phones

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LAVALTRIE (Montreal), Quebec – FCM, a Canadian e-waste recycler, has announced a new partnership to recycle mobile devices in part of an effort to benefit lowland gorilla conservation efforts.

FCM officials said this program highlights the leadership role that both the Toronto Zoo and FCM take to protect environmental sustainability. “Through this program, they strive to raise awareness about the effects of cell phone manufacturing on wildlife habitats,” company officials said.

By recycling end of life cell phones, pagers, BlackBerrys and other electronic devices we are able to decrease demand for the raw materials needed to produce new devices. Less demand for new materials reduces the need to expand mines, and helps to preserve the serenity and safety of wild gorillas, company officials said.

The proceeds from the Phone Apes program go towards helping lowland gorillas in these affected habitats. In 2011, all money raised will be donated to the “Goualougo Triangle Ape Project: Securing the Future of Gorillas and Chimpanzees in a Changing Landscape”, a project endorsed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Since 2006, The Toronto Zoo has provided 100 percent landfill-free cell phone recycling services to individual schools, community groups, corporate environments and many other partners across Ontario. The program was awarded top honors among North American zoos, aquaria and wildlife organizations in 2007 and 2009. The Toronto Zoo remains the most trusted cell phone recycler in the Greater Toronto Area & throughout Ontario.

To learn more about the Phone Apes program please go to

http://torontozoo.com/conservation/PhoneApes.asp

FCM Recycling offers its customers electronics recycling with almost no impact to the environment and the highest level of data protection. Materials received at any of the company’s recycling facilities are broken down into various recyclable components such as copper, aluminum, plastics and glass. Equipment is fully destroyed, ensuring that no data becomes exposed to pilfering, with Certificates of Destruction issued on request.

For more information about FCM Recycling please visit  www.fcmrecycling.com

 

FCM Recycling and the Toronto Zoo announced a new e-waste recycling effort to benefit gorilla conservation.

For more information go to http://torontozoo.com/conservation/PhoneApes.asp