First non-profit refurbisher awarded R2 certification

This month the R2 Standard hit a number of milestones.  The first being that the number of R2 certified facilities surpassed 100.  And within the same week, Computers for Classrooms (CfC) was the first non-profit refurbisher to be added to the database of R2 certified recyclers.  The organization, based in Chico, California, seeks to bridge the digital divide by providing technology to schools, non-profits and low income families.  Pat Furr, the Executive Director of the organization, decided to pursue R2 certification in anticipation of federal and state requirements for agencies to exclusively use third-party certified recyclers and refurbishers.    

     Furr began to prepare in earnest for the certification this past February.  Being a small organization with no formal environmental, healthy and safety management system (EHSMS), or a designated staffer to work on environmental, health and safety issues, she spent many evenings and weekends putting together the internal documentation required for certification.  With the help of GreenEye Partners to prepare for the audit, CfC achieved certification at the end of July. 

     According to Furr, the bet to become R2 certified has already begun paying off.  In July, federal agencies announced a commitment to using certified recyclers and refurbishers for end-of-life management of electronics and encourages the private sector and states to follow suit.  CfC's status as an R2 certified refurbisher makes them eligible to continue to work with federal agencies, and upon learning of their certified status, the state of California offered the organization access to new streams of high-quality, high-volume material.  "We expect we will be able to attract more donations from the private sector as well since R2 establishes requirements around secure data management, worker safety and environmental protection - issues that both the public and private sector are concerned about when choosing an e-scrap service provider," notes Furr.  "Non-profit refurbishers can do wonderful things with technology - if we can get it donated.  And we believe R2 certification can help channel those donations to CfC."

     Many refurbishers are poised to follow in the footsteps of Computers for Classrooms.  About 35 refurbishers have informally joined the R2 Alliance, a group of refurbishers that are supporting each other in the certification process by sharing information and experiences.  Out of those that have expressed interest, about 15 are in the process of signing contracts with a CB and the others are undertaking internal work to prepare for the audit process.

     One such refurbisher in the process of preparing for R2 is Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council, a non-profit providing computers to schools and low-income families in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  This operation manages over 1000 tons of equipment a year, fixing and redeploying many of these units back into the community.  Nancy Jo Craig, Executive Director of CACRC, said she anticipates obtaining R2 certification will provide results similar to those seen by CfC and help them receive more higher-grade donations from state and federal government agencies.   

     In fact, as a strategy to prepare for the certification process CACRC's director of operations visited CfC to see how that non-profit had put the R2 Standard into operation.  Craig sees R2 not only as an opportunity to improve the quantity and quality of donations, but also as a means to improve operations.  Craig notes, "R2 has provided us with a great goal to take our organization to the next level.  It has given us really great guidelines about where we may be missing the mark in some operational areas, which allows us improvement as an organization."     

     Refurbishers interested in learning more about the R2 Alliance and the collaborative effort of non-profit reuse organizations to achieve R2 should contact Sarah Commes at sc@pcrr.com.

Talking the R2 message

The fall is a busy time for industry events in the electronics recycling industry and R2 Solutions will be actively participating in many of these forums - attending, presenting, and exhibiting.  Here is a list of the venues that R2 Solutions will be at this fall.

ISRI Educational Program in Orlando, Florida, October 4th

R2 Solutions will be participating in the ISRI R2/RIOS certification workshop that will take place the day before the E-Scrap Conference.  Part of the presentation will include an overview of the R2 Standard, and an update on the many projects R2 Solutions has underway.  Additional workshop information can be found at the workshop registration website. 

E-Scrap Conference in Orlando, Florida,  October 5th-6th

The E-Scrap Conference is the world's largest event to focus specifically on the issues that impact the electronics recycling industry.  At this year's event, R2 Solutions will be presenting the findings of the first survey of R2 certified recyclers.  Information about how the standard is performing in the market place, the impact that certification is having on the industry, and feedback on implementation of the R2 Standard will be reviewed. R2 Solutions will have an exhibit booth in the trade hall.  Conference information can be found at the conference website.

IAITAM in Las Vegas, October 12th-14th

The annual IAITAM conference is the leading industry event for IT asset managers.  R2 Solutions will be in attendance, speaking with corporate clients about the importance of seeking recycling services from R2 certified recyclers.  Additional information about this year's conference can be found here.

Northeast Recycling Council, in Northampton Massachusetts, October 25-26

This year, the Northeast Recycling Council will feature electronics recycling as one of the primary topics at their annual conference.  R2 Solutions will discuss the importance of seeking responsible recycling services, the role that third-party certification is playing in the industry, and review the findings of the R2 certified recyclers survey.  General conference information can be found at the NERC website.

International Computer Refurbisher Summit 2011, Austin, TX, November 10th-11th

ICRS provides an opportunity for people working in the computer recycling and reuse fields to meet each other, learn about new developments and discuss the best practices of some of the top refurbishers in the world.  R2 Solutions will be exhibiting at the conference, and looks forward to engaging the refurbisher community on the benefits of R2 certification.  Conference information can be found at the PC Rebuilders and Recyclers website.  

e-Waste Management Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 14th-16th

This new industry event is designed to bring together leading electronics' Original Equipment Manufacturers, retailers, and resellers to discuss the challenges of extended producer responsibility, responsible e-waste management, and electronic recycling amongst their peers.  R2 Solutions will be presenting on the challenges that all certification programs face in maintaining program quality and the steps that R2 Solutions is taking to maintain the integrity of the R2 Standard.  A full conference agenda can be found here.

R2 Solutions looks forward to participating in these important industry dialogues and further supporting the R2 Standard through education and outreach. 

Engaging CBs:  Promoting consistency in auditing

There are currently five accredited certification bodies offering certification to the R2 Standard throughout the world, and that number is expected to grow.  While each CB has a unique process for engaging clients, it is expected that all CBs perform audits with the same rigor and offer the same interpretation of conformance.  To support consistency in auditing, R2 Solutions has engaged CBs over the past year in a variety of ways, including attending auditor trainings, participating in auditor conference calls and responding to individual information requests.  The R2 Update has also been used as a forum to discuss conformance issues in a way that helps both recyclers and auditors understand how to put the Provisions of the Standard into practice. 

     R2 Solutions expects the field of CBs to continue to grow, and in response is working on expanding the strategy for ensuring consistency in auditing.  R2 Solutions is working with each of the accredited CBs to determine the best means by which to offer training and education.  R2 certified recyclers are also being surveyed about the need for auditor and/or recycler training offered by R2 Solutions.     

Conformity review:  Toner and Toner Cartridges  

Conformity review is a monthly column highlighting important operational information concerning the R2 Standard

R2 Solutions has received a number of inquiries about the classification of toner cartridges in the R2 Standard and the requirements for their management.  While toner cartridges are not considered a Focus Material (FM), there are a few areas where they are specifically called out in the Standard for special consideration.  Areas where toner is referenced occur in Provision 5.

Provision 5(b).  Requires that toner and toner cartridges be removed "prior to shredding, materials recovery, energy recovery, incineration or land disposal." 

Provision 5(c)(4).  Requires that "toner and toner cartridges, though not an FM, shall be recycled through the OEM or other qualified toner recycler . . ."

These special treatment requirements were included as a measure to protect the health and safety of workers.  Additionally, a variety of recovery opportunities  exist for these components, which can be refurbished.  Specific reference to toner and toner cartridges were made in Provision 5 to promote recovery of this material rather than disposal. 

     However, because toner and toner cartridges are referenced in Provision 5, and often alongside mention of FMs, there is some confusion as to what portions of Provision 5 apply to toner and toner cartridges.  The resulting question is often, "Do sections (e) and (f) apply to toner?"  These two sections outline the due diligence that is required for all downstream vendors handling FMs through the recycling chain.  And because toner and toner cartridges are not FMs, Provision 5 (e) and (f) do not apply to vendors handling toner cartridges.