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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 a certification body.
AQA International
Orion Registrar, Inc.
Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc.
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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R2:2013 Approved by TAC, Forwarded to Board
Much if not all of the substantive work on R2:2013 is complete. This was the process. The R2 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) solicited input from the public on the areas of R2:2008 that needed strengthening or clarification. It then spent the last fifteen months diligently working on these areas, coming up with new approaches to issues such as the underlying EH&S management system, imports and exports, testing for reuse, and data security. During this time, the TAC again solicited public comment on the potential approaches it was considering to address the areas raised during the first public comment period.
The result of this extensive effort by the TAC is a draft of R2:2013 which the TAC unanimously approved for consideration by the R2 Solutions (R2S) Board of Directors. This draft has been forwarded to the R2S Board, which now has 60 days to review and adopt it or to remand it to the TAC for further work.
Many thanks to Corey Dehmey and Jody Erikson for drafting and facilitation support of the TAC's effort - they put in countless hours on this multi-stakeholder dialogue. And another huge thanks to the TAC co-Chairs, Chris Cleet and Rike Sandlin, and the rest of the TAC members and others that so actively contributed their expertise and perspectives to TAC workgroup discussions: Eric Capps, Joe Clayton, Nancy Jo Craig, Colin Davis, Betsy Delaney, John Fraser, Eric Harris, Robert Holcombe, Veryl Horsley, Karen Bakker, Kelley Keogh, Josh Lepawsky, Bill Long, Marcy McGrath, Sean Nicholson, Lynn Rubinstein, Lori Scheid-Gillespie, Renee St. Denis, Scott Venhaus, Mike Watson, Tina Garner, Shayla Powell, Scott Weislow, Darrell Hogan, Sarah Commes, Jim Lynch, Tracey Blaszak, and Steve Rockhold (and any others missing from this list). Any, finally, thanks to all the public commenters who took the time to submit their views electronically or at a TAC meeting, especially folks such as George Hinkle who put really significant effort into it - there are many of you.
Stayed tuned for information on how the draft of R2:2013 fares while under review by the Board. Board members recognize that the TAC comprises an extremely knowledgeable group of stakeholders and that their product deserves deference given their tremendous hard work. However, the Board has the final responsibility and authority to assure that R2:2013 serves the best interests of upstream customers, the environment, electronics recyclers, and the public generally.
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A Significant Change in Staff at R2 Solutions
Many of you know that over the past number of months Corey Dehmey has kept R2 Solutions moving forward. Though his title has been Assistant to the Executive Director, he effectively has been managing virtually all the affairs of the organization. And the R2 "boat" has continued to sail straight and at a brisk clip!
Corey is moving on. He has taken the position of Vice President of Operations and Compliance for AERC and is now responsible for operations at all AERC facilities. Corey has offered to continue contributing to R2 as able, but we will try not to impose on him too much. This will be difficult given his near-total knowledge of the inner workings of R2 Solutions and the close working relationships he has developed with the TAC, Certification Bodies, and R2-certified companies.
The R2 Community, and especially the R2 Solutions Board, owe a huge debt of gratitude for his long hours and outstanding work. Thank you Corey.
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R2 and Internet Sales
The Internet is an efficient way to sell working, tested equipment, either wholesale or retail - whether using eBay or other sites.
Unfortunately, it is also an effective way to sell equipment and components that do not work or have not been thoroughly tested for functionality. Large quantity Internet sales are a significant pathway for non-functioning e-scrap to make it overseas to disreputable buyers. This has got to stop. It is in large part why electronics recycling certification standards such as R2 have been put in place.
R2:2008, the original R2 Standard which is still in effect, requires R2-certified companies to treat all large shipments of untested equipment and components as though they are e-scrap going to recycling. This means thorough due diligence is required to determine that the buyer is reputable and the shipment is legal.
R2:2013, which will take effect in the months to come, takes a slightly different approach but to the same end. Changes in R2:2013 clarify and strengthen the requirements for these types of sales. The bottom line is that the R2 Standard prohibits the indiscriminate shipment of e-scrap to buyers that don't have a proven track record of solid environmental and (where needed) data-security performance.
Whether using the Internet or other means to consummate sales, R2-certified companies absolutely must do right by the environment and their upstream customers. In recent months, Certification Bodies - with the strong support of R2 Solutions - have suspended R2 certifications for non-conformances with the Standard. We keep these actions confidential as long as the situation is rectified expeditiously. However, the non-conforming company's listing is removed from the R2 and Certification Body websites, and the suspended company is required to remove mention of R2 from its website and marketing materials for the term of the suspension.
R2 Solutions will be increasing its efforts with respect to quality and conformity assurance (see the related article below). Strict conformity to the R2 Standard is paramount for R2 Solutions, the Certification Bodies, and R2-certified companies. Internet sales is an area where this is particularly important.
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A Message from the Executive Director Concerning Quality and Integrity
First, I am honored and deeply appreciative to the R2 Solutions Board for taking me on a second time as Executive Director. (I was the initial Executive Director for two years, then took an indefinite leave of absence, and just now have received the Board's blessing to return to the job.) As a set of opening remarks to this second time around, I want to lay out some of the critical work we, the R2 community, need to do.
Any voluntary standard is only as good as its reputation. Clients and customers will value it to the extent they have reason to believe it stands for quality and integrity. It is that simple. And yet standards and the certification programs through which they are implemented are imperfect systems. There is room for gaming these systems, no matter how scrupulous the standard-housing body, Certification Bodies, and most certified companies.
We, the R2 community as a whole, need to do everything we can to root out any and all risks to the quality and integrity of the R2 Standard. We have an opportunity to enhance our efforts in this regard with the arrival of R2:2013 in the coming months.
Some of the things we all can do: soon the R2 website will include the name of the Certification Body for each certified company listed. The Certification Bodies are required to act on complaints they receive. Each of you need to utilize this mechanism if you become aware of egregious nonconformities to the Standard. For less significant non-conformities, first try talking with one another; help raise the overall performance of the industry, one small step at a time.
Also, there is an ever-growing group of folks knowledgeable about the requirements of the R2 Standard; in-house EH&S people, consultants, auditors, folks here at R2 Solutions. Take advantage of this knowledge in instances where something related to R2 is unclear to you.
Finally, we should all constantly be thinking and talking about how to improve the R2 Standard and its implementation. Continuous improvement is as essential as quality and integrity. And it only can occur with a steady flow of constructive dialogue involving all in the R2 community.
Thanks and I look forward to working with each of you as we move forward. - John Lingelbach
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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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