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Find an R2 recycler
Choosing an R2 certified recycler takes the guess work out of hiring a reputable electronics recycler that adheres to the highest industry standards.
To find a certified R2 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.
AQA International 
Orion Registrar, Inc. 
Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc. 
QMI-SAI Global 
SGS
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Welcome to the R2 Update! This newsletter contains relevant industry information and news pertaining to R2 Solutions, and more importantly the R2 Standard, the leading certification program for the electronics recycling industry.
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R2 Solutions continues to welcome comments on the draft guidance
In early December, R2 Solutions posted the R2 Technical Advisory Committee's draft guidance on the R2 website with a request to interested parties that they submit comments. Thanks to all who have already submitted comments. And, if you haven't already, please submit comments during the next week. The comment period ends on January 6th. Robust public input will help make the guidance document as informative and clear as possible. Please use the form available at http://www.r2solutions.org/index.php?submenu=Practices&src=forms&ref=R2%20Guidance%20Feedback to submit your comments.
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R2 Standard revision process underway, will conform to ANSI Essential Requirements
The R2 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is working on draft revisions to the R2 Standard. At the same time, R2 Solutions is working to assure that the revision process conforms to the "ANSI Essential Requirements." ANSI is the American National Standards Institute, the entity that accredits organizations which develop and maintain industry standards (much as ANAB accredits Certification Bodies).
To become accredited, an organization must show that it follows a standards development process that conforms to the ANSI Essential Requirements. These are procedural requirements which assure openness, balance, consensus-based decision making, and due process during the development or revising of a standard.
Standards that are developed and revised through such processes are more highly valued in the marketplace. For example, the Federal government is committed to using standards developed through processes that conform to the ANSI Essential Requirements whenever possible.
The R2 Solutions Board of Directors has directed R2 Solutions' staff to evaluate the R2 Standard revision process and to identify any additional steps needed to conform to the ANSI Essential Requirements. Staff has been in communication with ANSI and is currently assessing such steps. It is also assessing whether the organization should take the step of becoming accredited by ANSI.
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Certified company spotlight: how R2 certification differentiates LIFECYCLExpress® from the competition
From time to time, the R2 Update will be featuring an R2 Certified company. This article was provided by Scott Seymour, Director of LIFECYCLExpress®, a division of CXtec®. Scott can be reached at (315) 476-3000 ext. 2114 or by email at sseymour@cxtec.com.
The e-scrap industry is growing at such a rapid pace that organizations struggle to find a reputable partner to recycle their used electronics. With increasing risks, from losing unsecured data to having electronics shipped overseas under unscrupulous circumstances, no one wants to be held liable for disposing of electronics incorrectly.
The R2 certification provides the assurance IT shops need when looking for a partner to recycle used IT equipment. And that's exactly why LIFECYCLExpress®, a division of CXtec® that provides IT asset management services, sought and received its R2 certification in 2011. We believe the R2 Certification exemplifies the industry best practices and provides the industry with best in class practices for refurbishment and recycling.
The issue of sustainability has always been close to the heart of William G. Pomeroy, Founder and CEO of CXtec. Pomeroy launched CXtec in 1978, running the business out of his home. He began by dealing in used IBM System 370 mainframe options and quickly grew the company to include CABLExpress® data center cabling solutions and equal2new® certified refurbished voice and networking gear. Pomeroy sought to change the perception of used IT equipment as an environmentally-friendly, cost-saving alternative to buying new.
While CXtec provided customers with the ability to buy and sell refurbished business phones, switches, routers and other gear, Pomeroy realized that his customers were struggling with how to dispose of assets that no longer had value. LIFECYLExpress, launched in 2009, sought to provide a way to dispose of customers' routers, business phones, switches, computers and more.
The Green Cube®, a container that allows customers to pack and ship up to 1,000 pounds of used electronics, became the core of LIFECYCLExpress offerings. However, services quickly expanded to include secure data destruction, hard drive shredding and logistics. LIFECYCLExpress also identifies and separates equipment that still has value so that it can be remarketed - the ideal outcome for used electronics.
To further differentiate LIFECYCLExpress from pop-up shops that lack proper organizational structure or standardization, the division sought and achieved its certification in R2 and RIOS.
Already certified to ISO 9001-2008, CXtec had many of the policies necessary for LIFECYCLExpress to achieve R2 and RIOS Certifications in place. However, LIFECYCLExpress also implemented additional security standards with a 12,000 square-foot facility expansion dedicated to recycling electronics scrap. The new facility includes a secure data destruction center with security card access, along with a cutting-edge Digital Video Surveillance system and a cutting-edge hard drive shredder. To streamline downstream processes, LIFECYCLExpress also invested in a high quality bailing system to compress like materials into high density commodity grade bales.
While pursuing the R2 certification, LIFECYCLExpress concurrently pursued certification in the Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS). RIOS requires organizations to implement a management system that focuses on the constant improvement of quality, environmental and health and safety performance. By pursuing both certifications at the same time, LIFECYLExpress was able to build a management system that prioritized R2 standards including responsible materials management, compliance, worker health and safety and others.
Implementing all of the facets of R2 and RIOS has enabled us to put together best in class practices and systems that will carry our world class recycling operations forward into the future with scalability.
LIFECYCLExpress is currently the only R2/RIOS certified facility in New York State that is also ISO 9001:2008-certified. |
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Conformity review: toner cartridges
Conformity review is a monthly column highlighting important operational information concerning the R2 Standard
Provision 5(c)(4): Toner and toner cartridges, though not an FM, shall be recycled through the OEM or other qualified toner recycler unless it is not economically feasible.
Each OEM has an established toner recycling program. Anyone can return the manufacturer's toner cartridge through its program, usually at no charge. This is straight-forward for the end-user. However, when dealing with volumes of varying brands and types of toner cartridges, the process of separation and return may not be desirable or economical for a recycler. Furthermore, the R2 Standard Provision 2 requires R2 Certified recyclers to reuse the product before recycling or disposal.
There also exists an entire secondary market for toner cartridges. This market reuses toner cartridges and recycles unusable cartridges. It consists of various types of businesses in a complex web of relationships. Most notably, there are collectors paying for reusable cartridges on the front-end, but who may do nothing more than aggregate inventory for resale. Although it is not required under the R2 Standard to explicitly conduct due diligence for toner cartridges according to provision 5(e), it is still necessary for the R2 Certified recycler to provide evidence to legitimize the path of toner cartridges to a "qualified toner recycler".
Collectors may accept the entire inventory on a sort and settle basis. These collectors may or may not actually "recharge" the desired toner cartridges. Recharging is the process of refilling or remanufacturing the cartridge. Many times the collector holds inventory and sells upon request to the recharger, who actually refills, or disassembles and rebuilds the cartridges. The importance here is to fully understanding how material is sorted, graded, and processed throughout the downstream to final reuse.
On the other side, there are many toner cartridges that cannot be remanufactured. Either because of damage, previous reuse (non-virgin), or lack of demand, these cartridges have no reuse market. It is important to understand how these cartridges are being recycled or disposed of by each downstream vendor in the process flow. There are a few businesses that specialize in recycling the plastics and metals from toner cartridges. Sometimes they are sent for energy recovery instead, if the cost of transport outweighs the return on recycling.
The R2 Standard requires that if not sent back to the original manufacturer, toner cartridges must be processed through a qualified toner recycler unless it is not economically feasible. During the certification audit or subsequent audits, the R2 Certified recycler must be prepared to substantiate the flow of this material through a collector, most likely, to actual rechargers and recyclers. If it is not feasible to recycle, then the cost analysis must be documented to demonstrate such. In addition, the R2 Certified recycler must ensure that toner cartridges are being processed in accordance with its policies. To fully understand and qualify the downstream flow for toner cartridges, often times further investigation is required beyond the company buying the toner cartridges. |
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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