Electronic waste is often inappropriately disposed of, resulting in the environment and workers being recycled to hazardous materials and personal data vulnerable to identity theft. As more electronic devices circulate, the amount of electronic waste thrown away increases. Because most of the materials in these products are not biodegradable, they also take up useful space in landfills. What some may not know is that electronics have many recyclable components that can be reused in the production of new devices. Customers can choose from several types of recycling facilities for their electronic product recycling and data destruction needs. However, going to a qualified and certified recycler means they will maintain the highest standards in handling e-waste and confidential information.
Unfortunately, the IT Asset Disposal and Electronic Product Recycling (ITAD) industry has suffered from some black eyeliner since its inception. The fault has been a small number of companies that sought to generate profits from recycling electronic products without due diligence regarding the environmental, health, safety and liability risks incurred in processing this material. A common practice among these non-certified electronics recyclers was to simply send their electronic waste abroad, sometimes even hidden in shipments of other products, where environmental and human safety laws are more lax but the damage is kept out of sight. or of the knowledge of the clients.

The risks posed by this practice should not be taken lightly. Used electronics change hands several times in transit and end up in "graveyards" abroad to be picked up by strangers. Businesses that relied on their electronics recycling to responsibly manage their assets are instead open to costly and embarrassing exposure to their brands and data. Choosing an R2 certified company as your ITAD partner is an important and easy step you can take to protect your business and brand.
Rather than risk a data breach and dump your retired assets in a landfill, an ITAD provider can often restore and resell your equipment, giving it new life. By extending the life of electronics, we minimize our environmental impact. Trained technicians can repair devices or even collect parts to enable repair of other devices.

If there are items that cannot be restored, an ITAD supplier will ensure responsible recycling to ensure that they are not sent to landfills or exported abroad. Verifying a company's third-party certification, such as R2 (Responsible Recycling) or e-Stewards, will give you peace of mind knowing that the proper procedures are being followed. This means that your sensitive data or asset tags won't appear in the wrong places, likely resulting in a costly branding and PR nightmare.

What is the R2 certification?
Responsible Recycling Practices, commonly known as R2, is one of two accredited electronics certificate standards. The R2 standards must meet 13 categories, each of which is designed to improve worker safety and increase efficiency. These guidelines are developed to improve the recycling process or electronic devices and minimize the risk of exposing workers to the hazardous waste contained in these products.
The role of certification
The R2 certification exists to address these challenges. Multi-stakeholder certification was first developed in 2008 as a way to combine best practices in recycling and responsible handling of electronic products identified by certified electronics recycling companies, IT service companies, retailers, the Agency for US Environmental Protection, NGO and many other partners. The result was a standard that was flexible enough to adapt to the needs of companies, regardless of their size or country of origin, and robust enough to comply with the best environmental, health and safety practices in the management of assets. YOU.

IT departments and sustainability officers in organizations around the world choose certified companies as their preferred IT asset management provider because they know that those companies have been vetted through a rigorous auditing and certification process. Certifications like R2 simplify the process of selecting an IT asset management provider while ensuring that an organization mitigates any external risks from the turnover of old computers and other electronic devices.

Organizations that specifically choose an R2 certified vendor also commit to a system of continuous improvement. Consistent with its reliance on common best practices, R2 integrates with and complements other established certifications such as NIST 800-88, ISO 14001, RIOS, and OHSAS 18001. The R2 standard is also designed to grow with the recycling of electronic products and assets. IT business management sector - Strengthens over time as feedback and refined best practices adapt to new challenges.
For example, the latest version of the standard, R2: 2013, places a new emphasis on safe and responsible reuse and refurbishment of electronics. This includes strict data deletion and responsible data handling procedures, functionality testing, and a quality assurance plan. By emphasizing reuse and reconditioning, R2 enables the longest possible life for electronics and commits to repair processes that are safe for the environment and beneficial to trained technicians engaged in repair and reconditioning throughout the world. world.

Additionally, R2: 2013 requires all certified companies to develop a written environmental health and safety management plan that is reviewed and verified by independent external auditors. Certified companies must also have a comprehensive legal compliance plan that details how the company, as well as its intermediate partners, comply with all applicable laws and regulations related to the storage, transportation, and processing of electronic products. The certification explicitly prohibits the illegal dumping and export of electronic products, and the requirement for written legal compliance plans significantly reduces the risk for companies choosing suppliers with R2 certification.

Benefits of R2 certified recycling
• Reduces the amount of energy required to make new products.
• It reduces the environmental risks associated with the creation of new products.
• Produces optimal data destruction
• Reduces health risks for recycling specialists and the public.
• Minimize landfill waste