R2 Solutions


May 2013

R2 Update
The latest information on the Responsible Recycling (R2) Standard 
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Choosing an R2 certified recycler takes the guess work out of hiring a reputable electronics recycler that adheres to the highest industry standards. 
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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. 

 

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NSF  

 

Orion Registrar, Inc. 

Orion Registrar, Inc.

 

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Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc.

 

 

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SGS 

 

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SAI
  
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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.
In This Issue
R2:2013 and R2 Code of Practices Official
R2 Solutions to Provide a List of Consultants on Website
Guidance and Training for R2:2013
WiseTek Solutions Limited & Responsible Recycling

R2:2013 and R2 Code of Practices Official

  

 

During May, the R2 Solutions Board of Directors unanimously adopted R2:2013 and the R2 Code of Practices, effective July 1, 2013.  Previously, it had adopted the Transition Plan to R2:2013.  These three documents constitute the foundation of the R2:2013 Program and set forth the steps involved in transitioning to it.  They can be found at http://www.r2solutions.org/r2practices/the-r2-2013-standard/.

 

R2:2013 is the most rigorous standard available for the electronics recycling industry.  Along with the R2 Code of Practices, it forms a certification program that upstream costumers will seek out and rely on.  It will become the certification of choice for electronics recyclers and their upstream costumers alike. 

 

 

R2 Solutions to Provide a List of Consultants on Website

   

 

Consultants experienced in helping electronic recyclers become R2 certified and then maintain their certification are proliferating.  Nonetheless, it can be difficult for an electronics recycler to find a consultant that suits its needs.  To help electronic recyclers find the right match without having to do a lot of leg work, R2 Solutions will be providing a list of consultants on the website within the next couple of months.

 

The listing of a consultant on the website will not constitute an endorsement of the consultant by R2 Solutions.  However, there may be baseline qualifications a consultant will need to meet in order to be listed, for example they may have to complete an R2 Solutions-approved training course on R2:2013.

 

Guidance and Training for R2:2013

 

 

R2 Solutions is in the process of developing an initial draft R2:2013 Guidance document.  This draft document will be reviewed and edited by the R2 Technical Advisory Committee, then forwarded to and adopted by the R2 Solutions Board of Directors.  The ambitious goal is to complete this process within the next number of weeks.

 

R2 Solutions also is developing training materials that will be used in "train the trainer" courses and made available to the trained trainers to use in training auditors, consultants, and electronics recyclers.  The aim is to begin trainings in the next number of weeks as it is a prerequisite spelled out in the R2 Code of Practices for auditors to audit to R2:2013.

 

  

Wisetek Solutions Limited & Responsible Recycling

 

From time to time, the R2 Update features an R2 Certified company. This article was provided by WiseTek Solutions Ltd. in Cork, Ireland. For more information, contact Jim Sheehan ([email protected]) or visit www.wisetek.ie.

 

 

WiseTek Solutions Limited is the third European company and the first Irish company to be certified to R2. Founded in 2007, the company provides manufacturing services, reverse logistics and asset value recovery services to the electronics industry in Europe. Having passed audits with Perry Johnson Registrars, the company now holds R2 certification for two of its Cork facilities and plans to seek certification in Thailand later this year.

 

Recycling awareness and responsibility in Ireland begins at an early age, 88% of all the early and middle schools subscribe to a voluntary "Green Schools in Ireland" project which has been in operation for over 16 years now. This project highlights awareness, prevention and reduction of waste in the schools and sometimes in the local community as well.

 

Probably, as a result of this program Ireland, the country, manages to collect in excess of 8Kg (17.6 lbs.) per capita of WEEE per annum. The European target is 4Kg (8.8 lbs.) at the moment. The upside of this programming from an early age is that when WiseTek talks to companies in Ireland, we do not have to convince these companies of the need to recycle or re-use, this philosophy is already ingrained in their mindset - we get to talk about how we are going to recycle or the markets that we have created for product re-use across the world or the efficiency of the refining process that we utilize. About 33% of what we test for re-use ends up in the USA marketplace, about 50% stays in Europe and the balance goes to Asia. The first thing that we look for when we receive product is re-use capability.

 

The big value that WiseTek derives from R2 certification is that our responsible recycling credentials are independently verified. As a result companies do not have to carry out expensive independent audits and site visits to be guaranteed that their product is being managed in a sustainable and responsible manner. The WiseTek Solution offers companies a single outsource option to perform configuration of product going to market, reverse processing to maximize the potential for customer recovery and asset disposal through its global re-sale network or final disposition through environmentally responsible refiners.

 

As a direct and tangible result of this certification, WiseTek has recently signed a global Asset Value Recovery agreement with McAfee, a world leader in IT security systems. As we manage to get the word out that we have two accredited facilities in Ireland and are being audited at our Thailand facility in June of this year, we expect to sign many more contracts with similar companies. One of our biggest customers, EMC Corporation has recently made certification a condition of doing business with them; this pre-requisite is becoming more and more popular with the biggest OEM's worldwide as they come under greater scrutiny by their customers and shareholders.

 

The WiseTek Solution enables our customers to realize the positive impact that seemingly redundant electronics can have on their supply chain cost and the environment, and R2 certification will assist us in ensuring our continued strict adherence to best practice is a positive differentiator for WiseTek.

 

Jim Sheehan is Director of Business Development - WiseTek Solutions Limited

 

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!