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New R2 Marketing
Webinar 
 
Monday, February 16
10:00am-11:30am
(Central Time)

Learn strategies for building your business and marketing your R2 Certification from Bob McCarthy. Bob has more than 15 years of sales and marketing experience in the electronics reuse and recycling industry and was VP of Business Development for a large electronics remarketing and recycling firm.
 
FREE of charge for:
--R2 certified companies
--Companies pursuing certification and that have paid the R2 license fee. 
To Register Contact: 
__________________
 
New Intro to R2 Training Webinar

Monday, January 26
10:00am-11:30am
(Central Time)

Monday, February 23
10:00am-11:30am
(Central Time)

This interactive course is designed for those who are want a general overview of the R2 Standard requirements.  This course will also discuss the steps and costs of certification.  
FREE of charge to attend
 
To Register Contact: 
__________________

Advanced R2
Training Webinar

Monday, January 17
10:00am-3:00pm
(Central Time)

Monday, February 9
10:00am-3:00pm
(Central Time)

This interactive five-hour course covers the requirements of the R2 Standard in detail.
Auditors, consultants and
facility managers are welcome to attend.  
Cost:  $300

Please note reservations should be made a week in advance of the class.
 
To Register Contact:

 

*If less than 2 people register for a given date, the webinar will be rescheduled and you will be notified prior to the class.  

  

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Become R2 Certified
 
R2 is the leading global 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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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! 
 
-the SERI team
In This Issue
New Marketing Webinar Offered
2014 - A Year of Transition and Progress
R2 Leaders, Sony & Oracle, expanding take-back and collection programs
New 2014 CRT Rule
New Due Diligence Implementation Guide available for download
Q & A....Changing locations and Calculating closure costs

2014 - A Year of Transition and Progress 

 

It has been a big year for the R2 program.  Much has been accomplished - especially for a program in only its fourth year and which employs just four people.  Over the past year, one of the most significant accomplishments has been the organizational transition from R2 Solutions to SERI.  We made this change so we could engage in a broader set of activities that are in line with our mission of promoting safe and sustainable electronics reuse and recycling throughout the world.


 

Our core focus will always be the development, quality, and promotion of the R2 standard.  But now, as SERI, we also can engage in activities such as assisting with the development of safe and sustainable electronics reuse and recycling in Latin America, India, and Africa.  SERI, unlike R2 Solutions, is a 501c3 organization and thus can receive grants and tax-deductible contributions from foundations, government agencies, and individuals.  This will enable SERI to fund capacity building, education, and other activities that further its mission. 


 

The R2 Leaders program is only a few months old and already a number of corporations and organizations have joined.  As part of the program each R2 Leader has identified steps they will take to promote safe and sustainable electronics reuse and recycling somewhere in the world.  It is encouraging to see the energy and resources going into some of these efforts. For example, DirecTV is providing training in a number of Latin American countries.  Other Leaders, such as Xerox and Goodwill, have taken steps to support and expand the collection of used electronics. A number of other projects in early stages of development will improve the electronics reuse and recycling landscape around the world.


 

On another front, we have been working on the transition from R2:2008 to R2:2013.  The new version of the R2 Standard has a deep emphasis on quality and consistency, with new environmental health and safety planning, record keeping and documentation review requirements. In large part, this transition has involved providing information to certified facilities and auditors regarding technical matters concerning the requirements of R2:2013.  The vast majority of R2 facilities have already upgraded to R2:2013 as of this writing, and we expect more to do so by the January 1 deadline.  Congratulations to all that have made the transition!


 

Perhaps the most important SERI initiative this year is the development and initial implementation of SERI's Quality plan and program for the R2 Standard.  Nothing is more critical than the integrity of the R2 program, and nothing presents a greater set of challenges.  Promoting consistency within the auditing community, and a solid understanding among facilities getting certified, is essential.  Identifying and removing any bad actors is even more important.  SERI is absolutely committed to doing everything in its means to maintain and enhance the overall quality of the R2 program.


 

Looking back, 2014 was a pivotal and transformative year for R2 Solutions/SERI and for the Standard, and we are excited at the momentum we have going in to 2015. Thanks to all within the R2 community that have helped SERI to move forward on so many fronts.  From everyone at SERI, have a happy holidays and a fantastic New Year.

 


R2 Leaders, Sony and Oracle, expanding electronics take-back and collection programs

 

Periodically we want to highlight the progress being made by members of the R2 Leader Program.  R2 Leaders have committed to taking on a project that advances our shared mission of safe and sustainable electronics reuse and recycling - particularly in underserved regions of the world.  This month's spotlight is R2 Leaders Sony and Oracle.

 

In the late 1990s when electronics take-back programs were not on the radar of most companies, Sony was ahead of the industry curve for implementing collection initiatives to remove used electronics from the waste stream, and for establishing a due diligence policy to vet electronic recycling partners.  Sony was an early supporter of the EPA's e-cycle initiatives which ultimately led to the establishment of the R2 Standard. Since that time, Sony has continued to introduce new programs and initiatives to boost electronics collection among consumers and businesses. 

 

"Nothing happens overnight," says Doug Smith, Director of Environment, Safety and Health at Sony, "but we are clearly seeing progress.  Since 2007, we have collected 360 million pounds of electronics.  That's 8,750 truckloads.  Lined up bumper to bumper, those trucks would reach from Philadelphia to Washington DC.  This is not the result of just one program, but multiple initiatives that we have undertaken."

 

One of Sony's latest endeavors is sponsorship of "Responsible Recycling - Powered by Sony" take-back events, such as the Sony Open golf tournament in Hawaii.   Their goal is to make The Sony Open a 'zero-waste' event within 3 years, and to increase the pounds of electronics collected from attendees.  

 

Oracle, one of the newest members of the R2 Leader program, is placing special emphasis on global initiatives that focus on reuse.  Working in conjunction with their Service Group, regional take-back programs like those in Argentina and India direct reusable parts and components to the repair stream.  The benefit of this approach is an affordable spare parts stream that extends the useful life of equipment.  This is particularly beneficial in countries that prohibit the entry of used parts.  Materials that cannot be reused are directed to a regional recycler that has been vetted by Oracle to ensure that materials are safely and properly recycled.  Keeping the reuse and recycling process regional provides the added benefit of reduced transportation costs, and ultimately, a smaller environmental footprint.

 

Oracle's regional take-back programs build on the success of the well-established Oracle Return Management System (ORMS) which provides customers a simple way to return retired or replaced equipment free of charge.  The ORMS program recovers usable parts and directs the remaining materials to certified recyclers. 

 

"We are continually looking at new processes that will enable customers to give equipment back so that it can be managed responsibly," says Ron Yauk, Global Hardware Returns Manager at Oracle.  "Different regions of the globe require different approaches.  We are developing processes that will fit the needs of our customers - regardless of the region."

 

Members of the R2 Leader Program have made the commitment to support the principles of the R2 program, and also take a leadership role in a specific project that will advance SERI's mission of making safe and sustainable electronics repair and recycling more accessible around the world.  For more information about the R2 Leader Program, please contact Henry Leineweber at [email protected].

 


 The 2014 CRT Rule

 

The effective date of the US 2014 CRT rule is fast approaching.  Starting December 26th, companies located in the United States that export CRTs for recycling or reuse under the conditional exclusion from hazardous waste regulation (40 CFR 261.4 (a) (22)) will need to submit additional information to the USEPA.  A fact sheet is posted on the USEPA website to help US exporters understand the changes. USEPA also has created templates to assist exporters with completing the new notification of intent to export CRTs for reuse and the new annual reporting requirement for CRTs exported for recycling under the final rule. The main USEPA website for exporting CRTs, which includes all of the above materials, is http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/international/crts/index.htm.

 

R2 certified companies must be in full compliance with import/export requirements at all times.  No CRTs can be exported without full compliance to the new regulation.  SERI strongly encourages all recyclers to verify that downstream vendors who export their CRTs are in full compliance with the new regulations.


New Implementation Guide on Due Diligence 
now available on SERI website

 

The first R2 Implementation module which covers issues pertaining to the Due Diligience requirements of Provision 5 has been released and can be downloaded from the SERI website.  Additional modules pertaining to other areas of the Standard will be released over the course of the first half of 2015.

Click Here to Download Due Diligence Module  

 

Your Questions...
Changing locations and
Calculating closing costs

 

Q.   We will be moving to a larger facility in a few months.  Will my R2 certificate automatically transfer to the new location?

 

A.  R2 Certificates don't "transfer" from one facility (location) to another.  You should first contact your certifying body.  They will want to know if there are any changes involving the scope of your activities or the processes and procedures at your new location.  They will also want to know of changes in ownership or the number of employees.   After evaluating this information, the certifying body will determine if a special visit is necessary prior to your regularly scheduled audit.  Your CB will issue a revised certificate upon determining your facility is still operating in conformance to the R2 Standard.  It is not necessary to pay a new R2 license fee when relocating a facility within the same metropolitan area. 


 

Q.   Can I include the value of inventory when calculating closing costs?

 

A.   Inventory cannot be considered an asset when calculating costs.  The fair market value of processing equipment such as shredders or testing equipment, however, can be considered an asset.