 |
|
Building on the Success of 2015
|
2015 was a year of growth and accomplishment for SERI and the R2 Program. Close to seventy new facilities achieved R2 certification, including facilities in the Czech Republic, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. R2 certified facilities are now in twenty-one countries, and efforts are underway to certify facilities in a number of additional countries around the world. To meet this growing global demand, translations of the R2 Standard are now available i n Spanish, French, Portuguese, Japanese and Mandarin. They can be downloaded from the R2 Document Library.
In 2015, SERI (the housing body for the R2 Standard) expanded its R2 Quality Program to include unannounced spot audits of certified facilities. For the most part, these audits have found facilities operating at a high level of performance with respect to R2's requirements. In other cases, the consultative nature of the spot audits has proven helpful in assisting facilities to better understand and implement the steps necessary to meet the R2's requirements. In a few instances, spot audits have led to the suspension of facilities that were not meeting key R2 requirements (e.g. the requirements of Provisions 3, 5, 6, 7, and 11).
With respect to education and outreach, SERI expanded training opportunities by offering new webinars including advanced R2 training for facility managers and auditors, an introductory webinar for those considering R2 certification, a webinar on marketing strategies for R2 recyclers, and bi-monthly webinars on various implementation topics - one for R2 auditors and another for R2 recyclers. SERI also developed a broad range of materials to help R2 certified companies educate existing and prospective customers concerning the risks associated with irresponsible recycling practices and the value of partnering with R2 certified recyclers and brokers.
SERI also worked to increase awareness of the importance of responsible electronics recycling and the R2 brand with the launch of three "awareness" campaigns. Refurbished Devices for Back to School targeted consumers and received print, radio and TV coverage.
A Focus on Electronics for America Recycles Day
primarily targeted businesses and received coverage in the business/finance sections of 23 online publications including Yahoo! Finance, Wallstreet Select, Bloomberg, Morning Star News, and the Daily Herald. Be "Green" While Making Space for New Electronic Holiday Gifts and Gadgets was a general interest campaign picked up by the Examiner.com.
The R2 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was reconvened with many new members, including members from England, Ireland, and Singapore. Currently, the TAC has workgroups doing preliminary work on issues relating to CRTs; mercury-containing devices; and insurance, closure plans, and financial instruments. Importantly, the TAC process for revising the R2 Standard was accredited by ANSI - the American National Standards Institute. This distinguishes SERI as the only standards development organization for electronics recycling that is ANSI accredited.
SERI's R2 Leader program had a productive year, adding Lenovo, Sims Recycling Solutions, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality as participants - the latter being the first government agency to join the coalition. R2 Leader representatives held their first in-person, two-day workshop at Microsoft's offices in Austin, Texas to discuss key issues in electronics recycling. Another such meeting is tentatively scheduled for early 2016. Particularly noteworthy, R2 Leaders involved in the Latin America Pilot Project (DIRECTV, Oracle, Sims, and Arrow Electronics) made significant headway in assisting recyclers in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador to implement environmental, health and safety plans and prepare for their stage one R2 Certification audits.
In the year ahead, SERI will continue to focus on quality initiatives - including increased spot audits and enhanced training for recyclers and auditors - that strengthen the R2 Program. Building on what we've learned during the rollout of the R2 Leader Program's Latin America Pilot Project, plans are underway to make electronics repair and recycling safer and more accessible in other underserved regions of the world. We'll be sharing more details in the coming months.
|
|
Effective Testing of LCD monitors and TV screens for repair and reuse
|
|
There is a preliminary inspection method for LCD screens often referred to in the industry as a "flashlight test." This inspection determines if there is physical damage to the screen. An LED flashlight is pressed against the screen to shine light into the center and corners of the screen. Generally, a screen with a cracked or bleeding panel will "grab" the light, making a visible light trail along the crack. Screens that fail this flashlight inspection are not repairable and should be recycled. This procedure is a quick and effective first step in determining whether an LCD television or monitor may have reuse potential (Provision 2). However, it is not a sufficient method under the R2 Standard for testing "Key Functions."
Further testing and documentation is required to determine whether Key Functions of the device and/or components are working under Provision 6(c)2 of the R2 Standard. Each device must be powered on to perform the tests. For example, harvested LCD screens that are intended to be used as replacement screens or in new products should confirm that lighting, color and pixels are all functioning properly. Testing of LCD monitors or televisions that are destined for continued use as monitors and televisions would additionally include tests of the power, volume, input ports, and control buttons. All key functions of the device must be working to resell without restrictions as "R2/Ready for Resale."
Non-repairable LCD televisions and monitors must be managed as a Focus Material because they contain circuit boards. Some LCD televisions, monitors, and laptops (typically older models) may also contain fluorescent lamps (tubes) containing mercury, known as CCFLs. To properly manage LCD devices for recycling, you must distinguish between LCD-LEDs which do not contain mercury, and LCD-CCFLs which require the removal and proper management of the mercury lamps.
|
Q&A Labeling Requirements of Provision 6
|
Q. "What is the proper way to label shipments of electronics that are being sold for reuse? Is it the shipment or each individual product that should be labeled?"
A. This is a common question. Provision 6 requires that each shipment be sorted and labeled - not each individual unit. Identifying shipments by labelling the shipping or sales records allows for verification during an audit even after products have been shipped. Typical records where an auditor would expect to find identifying labels could include Bills of Lading, Sales Orders, Sales Listings, or Invoices. The relevant sections of the R2 Standard and Guidance Document shed more light on this area:
Provision 6(c) of the Standard
An R2:2013 electronics recycler shall, prior to shipping...identify each shipment as either: (1) Tested for Full Functions, R2/Ready for Reuse; (2) Tested for Key Functions, R2/Ready for Resale; and/or (3) Evaluated and Non-Functioning, R2/Ready for Repair.
From the Guidance Document -
Comment 6.2 - ...Once identified, equipment or components should be labeled with the appropriate category on shipping papers and/or contractual documents.
Comment 6.5 - To "identify each shipment" means to label or describe on an invoice the condition of the material in one of the three categories. Shipping documents or invoices should include one of the following statements:
- Tested for Full Functions, R2/Ready for Reuse;
- Tested for Key Functions, R2/Ready for Resale; or
- Evaluated and Non-Functioning, R2/Ready for Repair
If multiple categories are shipped in the same shipment, then the items need to be clearly distinguished.
|
| Upcoming R2 Technical Advisory Committee Meeting |
The R2 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is holding a meeting on February 2-3 in Dallas. The meeting will be preliminary in nature, focusing on the initial identification of issues the TAC may consider when it deliberates about possible revisions to the R2 Standard. The meeting is open to the public. If you are interested in observing the proceedings, please contact Sharada Rao at [email protected].
|
| Share your opinion about topics for our newsletter |
Please take a moment to share your opinion about the articles and topics you would like to read about in our newsletter. Your thoughts and suggestions will help us make the R2 Update newsletter more helpful and relevant to you. Click here to link to our brief 5 question survey.
Thank you!
|
 |
|
Intro to R2
An overview of the R2 Standard requirements,
and the steps and costs
of certification.
Wed. January 13
10:00am-11:15am (CT)
Wed. January 27 10:00am-11:15am (CT)
Wed. February 10
10:00am-11:15am (CT)
NO CHARGE to attend.
|
Advanced R2 Training
This interactive 5-hour course covers the requirements of the R2 Standard in detail. Auditors, consultants and facility managers are welcome to attend.
Tues. January 12
10:00am-11:15am (CT)
Tues. February 9
10:00am-11:15am (CT)
Cost: $300
|
NEW Marketing Workshop
(Must be R2 certified to attend)
- Learn how to present the latest laws and research pertaining to data and environmental liability to your prospective customers, and differentiate yourself in the marketplace.
- Access NEW R2 Marketing Tools and learn strategies for marketing your R2 certification from Bob McCarthy. Bob successfully landed many Fortune 500 accounts during his tenure as VP of Business Development at a large electronics remarketing and recycling firm, and has more than 16 years of industry experience.
Tuesday, February 23
10:00 - 11:15am (Central Time)
NO CHARGE to attend.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
