Quick Links
R2 Marketing 
Webinar 
 
Tuesday, April 21
10:00am-11:30am 
(Central Time)

Learn strategies for building your business and marketing your R2 Certification from Bob McCarthy, who successfully landed many Fortune 500 accounts during his tenure as VP of Business Development at a large electronics remarketing and recycling firm.  Bob has more than 15 years of industry experience.  
 
FREE of charge for:
--R2 certified companies
--Companies that are pursuing certification and have paid the R2 license fee. 
To Register Contact: 
__________________
 
Intro to R2
Training Webinar

Monday, April 6
10:00am-11:30am
(Central Time)
 
Monday, April 20
12:00 noon - 1:15pm
(Central Time)

This interactive course is for those who want a general overview of the R2 Standard requirements.  This course will also discuss the steps and costs of certification.  
No charge to attend.
 
To Register Contact: 
__________________

Advanced R2
Training Webinar

Tuesday, April 14*
10:00am-3:00pm
(Central Time)

Tuesday, May 12*
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

*If less than 2 people are registered for Advanced Training, the webinar will be rescheduled.  
 
To Register Contact:
Your Ad Here!
 
If you are a service provider to R2 Certified companies, contact us about advertising in our newsletter.

  

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. 

 

NSF Logo  

NSF  

 

Orion Registrar, Inc. 

Orion Registrar, Inc.

 

PJR logo 

Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc.

 

 

SGS 

SGS 

 

SAI
SAI
  
TUV Logo
TUV SUD

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
Ensuring your eBay sales conform to R2 testing & resale requirements
SERI, Microsoft & PCRR spearheading new pilot program to promote reuse
Spot Audits: Protecting the integrity of the R2 Standard & R2 Certified Companies
New R2 educational materials to be released in April
Update on R2 Licensing Process

Ensuring your sales on eBay conform to R2 testing & resale requirements

 

Many R2 facilities have found eBay to be an instrumental tool for finding buyers for their used electronics.  While this can be a good venue for selling parts and equipment that are classified as R2/Ready for Reuse or R2/Ready for Resale (meaning it has been tested and found working according to Provision 6 of the R2 Standard), it is generally not a practical venue for selling R2/Ready for Repair equipment and components.

 

Under the R2 Standard, equipment that has not been tested or that is non-functioning can only be sold to a buyer that meets the due diligence requirements of Provision 6 (c) (3).  Most buyers on eBay would not be likely to qualify under these R2/Ready for Repair requirements for due diligence.  Unless a relationship for ongoing transactions is established with a particular eBay buyer, this is not going to be a practical downstream option for R2 certified companies. 

 

As part of our ongoing quality initiative, SERI has been reviewing the eBay sites used by R2 certified companies.  We have noticed some questionable advertisements that cause concern about whether the testing and resale requirements of Provision 6 are fully understood and being met.  A few examples:

  • "As-Is" -  This is a term typically used in warranty language that means the seller does not guarantee that the item will be fit for a particular purpose of the buyer, and/or that the seller is providing no warranty that the item works.  Since R2 Provision 6 requires working equipment that is covered by a Product Return Plan, it is unlikely that "As-Is" sales conform to either the testing or return policy requirements of Provision 6.
     
  • "Parts only" - A recent advertisement stated "machine is for parts and repairs only, and no warranty of any kind is expressed or implied."  Again, since R2 Provision 6 requires working equipment to be covered by a Product Return Plan and policy, this would not conform to the R2 Provision 6 requirements.  It is possible to sell parts, but those parts carry the same requirements for testing, records of testing, and return plans as whole units.
     
  • "Pulled from a working environment" - Most recyclers do not implement the quality controls to adequately document the functionality of the equipment or components  prior to being de-installed.   Usually the decision to sell equipment to a refurbisher is done after it has been decommissioned.  "Pulled from a working environment" does not, in and of itself, meet the testing requirements of Provision 6.
     
  • "List of non-working key functions" for equipment labeled as R2/Ready for Resale is not enough.  In order to be classified as R2/Ready for Resale, ALL key functions must work according to Provision 6(c)(2).  For example, a laptop cannot be classified as R2/Ready for Resale if the LCD screen is unreadable.  This is a key function of a laptop that prevents it from functioning for the user. 

The bottom line: if you don't have records documenting that used equipment has passed testing of at least the key functions, then it should not be sold on eBay.  Instead, find a qualified refurbisher that will fulfill the due diligence requirements of Provision 6(c)(3).   

  

SERI, Microsoft and PC Rebuilders & Recyclers

spearhead new "R2 Ready for Reuse Pilot Program"

 

SERI, Microsoft and PC Rebuilders & Recyclers have made significant progress on a pilot project that will create new incentives for purchasing refurbished computers. 

 

The "R2 Ready for Reuse Project" will host the refurbishment and testing reports for R2 refurbished computers in an online database. A purchaser of a refurbished computer will be able to look up the unit's report using an attached label. The intent is to provide buyers of refurbished computers with an extra level of transparency and assurance that their purchase will meet their expectations for high quality.

 

Labels have been shipped for testing with the database, and the online database is in the final stages of testing.  Revisions to the database will be implemented in the upcoming months as the pilot progresses. When completed, PCRR will move forward with additional testing of the labeling system with selected customers and partners.  If you would like to know more about this project, please email [email protected].

 


Spot Audits:  Protecting the integrity of R2 Standard and R2 Certified Companies

 

Last month's newsletter described the new R2 Witness Audit program which was launched this month as part of SERI's comprehensive Quality Program.  Another important component is "spot audits." Initially, the primary focus of spot audits will be R2 certified recyclers who are the subject of a serious complaint.  

 

When complaints are received, SERI will work closely with the Certification Body (CB).  The CB will be asked to conduct the initial investigation, and if warranted, suspend or even revoke the Certificate of the company in question.  SERI may choose to participate in the initial investigation audit or conduct a follow up spot audit, depending on the circumstances of each case.  The spot audits will be conducted on very short - or no - notice in order to gain a truer picture of the company's "business as usual" operations. 

 

In addition to using spot audits as a means to investigate complaints, SERI will be expanding its spot audits to include random visits to R2 certified facilities.  This will help identify areas where additional training may be needed, and also identify recyclers/refurbishers who may be taking shortcuts between regularly scheduled audits.  The ultimate goal of spot audits is to remove bad actors from the R2 certification program, protect the integrity of the program, and protect the reputation of R2 certified companies who work hard to conform to the R2 Standard's requirements.

 


New educational materials to help spread the R2 message of safe & sustainable electronics recycling

 

Based on feedback from R2 certified companies, R2 Leaders, and other groups who support the R2 Program, SERI is creating new educational materials and revising some of our existing materials.  These materials are designed to educate businesses, other organizations and consumers about the importance of choosing R2 certified facilities to recycle their used electronic products.  

 

Included will be informational handouts, tools to help plan and promote community or workplace collection events, PowerPoint presentations, and advertising templates that can be co-branded by R2 certified companies. The new materials will be sent out to all R2 certified companies beginning in April.  Other groups or organizations that would like to use these materials to promote safe and sustainable electronics reuse and recycling in their workplace or community should contact [email protected].  


Update on R2 Licensing Process


Over the past several months, SERI has made a concentrated effort to both improve its ability to serve R2 certified recycling facilities, as well as ensure the quality of the implementation of the standard. Part of this process has involved the creation of a new database to keep track of certified facilities, steps to better coordinate with Certification Bodies, and an updated License Agreement to ensure quality and consistency in the implementation of the standard and the use of the R2 logo.

If you have a new facility going through R2 Certification, or if your facility is coming up for its annual R2 license renewal, there are three emails you will receive from SERI.

  1. R2 License Agreement - This is a legal document outlining the terms of use for the R2 logo and maintaining your R2 license at your facility. A person legally authorized to represent your company will need to electronically sign it. A new License Agreement will need to be signed each year to renew your R2 License.
     
  2. R2 License Invoice - When your License Agreement is signed, you will automatically receive an invoice for your annual license fee at your facility. Instructions on how to pay online, through wire transfer, or by check, are included.
     
  3. R2 License Acknowledgement - When both your License Agreement is signed, and your License Invoice is paid, you will receive a R2 License Acknowledgement email. Your auditor will ask for this email as proof that your license is active so keep it someplace safe. If you need an additional copy, please contact SERI and we will re-send one.

The aim is to make the licensing process quick and easy for R2 Certified recyclers. Your feedback on how we can improve the process is always welcome and will be taken into consideration as part of our continuous improvement efforts.