Tag Archives: ewaste

First Mexico-based company certified to e-Stewards

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Glezco, in Neuvo Leon, outside Monterrey, Mexico, has achieved e-Stewards certification.

In addition to the Neuvo Leon facility, Glezco operates additional e-recycling plants in Guadalajara, Jalisco and Tijuana, Baja California in Mexico. These operations are also undergoing certification, as required under the e-Stewards program.

“We are thrilled to welcome the first Mexican e-Stewards recycler.  The global expansion of the e-Stewards program is essential for servicing the needs of the world’s most responsible multi-national corporations,” said Jim Puckett, Executive Director of BAN.

e-Stewards Certification ensures compliance with the international Basel Convention and its decisions as it prohibits toxic components contained in corporate electronic assets from finding their way to developing countries.  Mexico is a Party to the Basel Convention.

Glezco also holds ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001 certificates and has achieved the Clean Industry Certification by SEMARNAT, a voluntary program ensuring compliance with Mexico’s federal environmental laws.

Established in 1992, Glezco serves large enterprises in a wide range of industries in Mexico recycling a large amount of consumer and corporate electronic scrap and equipment.

“Glezco has a long-standing commitment to best practices but we felt that the e-Stewards Certification was essential for ensuring our customers that their hazardous e-waste and sensitive data will be properly managed,” said Horacio Gonzalez, CEO of Glezco.  “It was hard work but we are very proud of holding the distinction of having passed the test of the industry’s gold standard.”

For more information on the company visit: http://glezcocorp.com.mx

Sims Recycling Solutions gains R2 at six more facilities

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Sims Recycling Solutions has successfully achieved Responsible Recycling Practices for Electronics Recyclers (R2) certification at its facility in Columbia, S.C.; Sacramento, Ca.; San Francisco; Franklin Park, Ill., and two facilities in Tampa, Fla.

R2 is a stringent set of requirements for electronics recyclers. The standard includes requirements for environmental, worker health and safety, and security practices.

“We took the R2 Certification very seriously and put strict deadlines on implementation.” said Steve Skurnac, President of Sims Recycling Solutions, Americas. “These standards are a great way for businesses and consumers to recognize that their electronics are going to an environmentally responsible recycler. We have proven the environmental, health and safety commitment of Sims through our recent accomplishment of our North American R2 certifications.”

Other than the two recently opened facilities in Mississauga, Ontario and Edison, N.J., all SRS sites in North America now hold the R2 Certification. These new facilities are targeted to be certified in the next six months.

Sims Recycling Solutions also holds certifications for ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007.

Sims Recycling Solutions (www.us.simsrecycling.com) recycles electrical and electronics from 42 sites across the globe. In North America, Sims Recycling Solutions operates 13 sites in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Ontario, South Carolina and Tennessee.

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.

Ohio EPA Expands Agency Recycling Program to Include Phones 4 Food Program

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Ohio EPA is using SmartRecycle’s “Phones 4 Food” program to recycle electronic devices and printer cartridges, the result of which will expand recycling efforts and set a good example at its Central Office location. Proceeds are donated to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank’s Operation Feed.

Electronic devices accepted include cell phones, MP3 players and digital cameras. The recycling program allows employees to donate working and non-working devices. All phones and accessories are re-purposed in a zero-waste, environmentally friendly way. Cell phones are either refurbishing or reused. Unusable metal or plastic components are smelted at a U.S. EPA-certified facility. One hundred percent of the consumer’s data is scrubbed from devices using data disposition technology. All SIM cards are shredded and destroyed. All old or broken electronic devices are recycled but do not create revenue for Operation Feed.

In addition, Ohio EPA is adding a program to collect name brand printer cartridges. Printer cartridges would be reused when possible, and these donations also benefit Operation Feed. Employees are encouraged to bring cell phones and cartridges into the office from home for recycling. Brand name cartridges will be recycled by SmartRecycle, while store brand and remanufactured cartridges also are being recycled through Davis Laser Products.

This new effort builds on a very successful recycling program for paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum at Ohio EPA.
For more information on the company please visit http://www.smartrecycle.com/index.php

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.