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Find an R2 recycler
Choosing and R2 certified recycler takes the guess work out of hiring a reputable electronics recycler that adheres to the highest industry standards.
To find an R2 certified electronics recycler, click here.
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Become R2 certified
R2 is the leading standard for the electronics recycling industry, setting a high bar for practices that protect the environment, human health, safety and the security of the recycling process. Show your customers that you are an industry leader.
To become an R2 certified recycler, please contact one of these accredited certifying bodies.
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Welcome to the first edition of the R2 Update! This newsletter contains relevant industry information and news pertaining to R2 Solutions, and more importantly the R2 Practices Standard, the leading certification program for the electronics recycling industry.
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Federal task force's goals consistent with R2 principles
Under the direction of the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the U.S. EPA and the U.S. General Services Administration will be forming a task force to prepare a national strategy for electronics stewardship for Federal agencies. By June of next year, the task force will deliver to the CEQ a national framework that includes, amongst other goals, "a strategy to build capacity within and share best practices with developing countries, so they can improve their ability to safely handle used electronics, while promoting economic development." For a copy of the letter charging these two agencies with the formation of the task force, click here.
President Obama echoed support for these goals in his proclamation establishing November 15th as America Recycles Day. The President's Proclamation states a strategy needs to be created by the interagency task force that will, ". . . ensure electronics containing hazardous materials . . . are not exported to developing nations that lack the capacity to manage the recovery and disposal of these products in ways that safeguard human health and the environment." To read a full copy of the President's proclamation, click here.
This goal is in line with the R2 Practices promotion of working with trade partners to ensure the legal export and receipt of materials by fully licensed and permitted, state-of-the-art facilities, regardless of their location domestically or internationally. According to John Lingelbach, Acting Executive Director of R2 Solutions, "Both R2 and the President's Proclamaion focus on what is important; ensuring that exports to developing nations only occur in situations that are legal, and in which the equipment will be managed in ways that safegaurd human health and the environment." Working with trade partners to improve materials handling practices is the best method to promote responsible economic development.
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Launch of R2 Solutions
 R2 Practices has been an important industry certification for nearly 2 years, but until recently no single organization was responsible for the management of the standard. With the rollout of R2 Solutions (R2S), the non-profit organization recently formed to house the R2 Practices, efforts and resources will be devoted to marketing the standard, providing education about R2 and assuring open, transparent, and balanced governance of the R2 Practices. Those seeking to become R2 certified have a resource and for those that are already R2 certified, R2 Solutions will help promote your company as an industry leader. As a non-profit, R2 Solutions has a governing council and board of directors. This structure allows for transparency, continued industry engagement, and organizational guidance from experts. R2 Solutions boasts an esteemed board of directors, which includes:
John DeVillars works in the area of renewable energy as Managing Partner of BlueWave Capital. The Regional Administrator for New England during President Clinton's EPA, he served as co-Chair of EPA's national Common Sense Initiative Advisory Group for the electronics industry. John Howard is currently working as an independent public policy consultant after a distinguished career in the field of law. During the Bush Administration, he served as the Federal Environmental Executive and went on to chair EPA's National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology. John Lingelbach is a nationally-recognized environmental mediator who is currently serving as Acting Executive Director of R2 Solutions. From 2006 through 2008, he facilitated the multi-stakeholder development of the R2 Practices. Pete Regan is currently working with private-equity backed companies and with several non-profits. Previously, he served as CEO and Chairman of the Board of ERM, Inc., the world's leading global provider of EHS, risk and social consulting services. Lynn Rubinstein is the Executive Director of the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) for the past 11 years. NERC's mission is to advance an environmentally sustainable economy by promoting source and toxicity reduction, recycling, and the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services.
The governing board is still being established, but will have a balance of recyclers, regulators, and NGOs. R2 Solutions respects the voices of all of these important stakeholders and believes each group's involvement makes R2 a stronger standard. |
R2 Solutions: Working for you
 Representatives from R2 Solutions have been working hard to raise awareness about the organization and increase the visibility of the standard. In the past two months, R2 Solutions has exhibited at 2 key industry trade shows and conferences.
E-Scrap Conference - R2 Solutions celebrated its formal launch during the largest annual electronics recycling industry gathering the world. The forum allowed R2 Solutions the opportunity to answer the industry's questions about the R2 standard and provide information to many processors that plan to pursue R2 certification in the near future.
IATAIM Conference - R2 Solutions exhibited at the largest conference and trade show for IT asset managers last month. At the trade show, R2 Solutions raised awareness of the standard amongst important client bases for R2 certified processors. A great deal of interest was expressed in the standard and it received much positive feedback. This was just the first of many steps that R2 Solutions will be taking to increase awareness of the R2 standard amongst decision makers for IT asset disposition.
R2 Solutions will continue to market, and represent the R2 Practices in a variety of industry forums to raise awareness of the standard nationally and internationally. |
Refurbishers forming group for discounted R2 certification
 Certification can be an expensive process, particularly for smaller organizations. Recognizing the value of R2 certification, the computer refurbishing community is seeking to build a consortium of reuse and refurbishing outfits that will commit to pursuing certification next year. With this block of certifications, they hope to be able to leverage a discount on the certification process, making R2 certification economically attainable.
If you are a refurbisher that has been considering becoming R2 certified, please contact Sarah Commes at sc@pcrr.com, or 773-545-7575. The refurbisher R2 certification group would like to be formed by the end of this calendar year.
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We want to hear from you! Please send along any R2 related news or information that you think would be important to share with the electronics recycling community.
Thank you!
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