R2 Survey Findings

R2 solutions is a non-profit organization that is considered the housing entity of the R2 standard. In order to determine how the R2 standard has benefited organizations that have implemented it, R2 solutions conducted a survey in 2011 with 52 recyclers from 112 faculties participating in it. The intent of this survey was three fold: to educate organizations about good recycling practices, promote the R2 standard and assure an open and transparent governance of the standard. Over 70% of the recyclers who participated provided responses that helped shape the results of the survey. The results have helped R2 solutions to further develop the deficient areas of the standard, educate the public about the standard and shape the operational performance in the industry.

Responsible Recycling — Why Consider R2?

Have you thought about what happens to your old cell phone, television set, or computer after you have thrown it away or donated it to a vendor that collects materials for free? If you are the management representative for an electronics manufacturer, research laboratory, or waste management/recycling business, have you thought about the effects that electronics might have on the environment if they are disposed of improperly?

Around the world, 20 to 50 million tons of electronic waste were generated in 2007, and that same year, the United States, in particular, was responsible for generating at least three million tons. According to the EPA, the US Government alone is currently disposing of 10,000 computer monitors per week! All this “techno-trash” is either making its way into local landfills or getting exported to countries like China, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Ghana, and Nigeria with the expectation that it will be recycled. However, all too often, rather than be recycled or disposed of properly, this exported waste is left heaped in dumps where it poses a significant threat to the local people and the environment in general. Globally, this enormous e-waste problem has a potentially disastrous future, especially as computer and cell phone use continues to grow throughout the world.

As consumers and corporations become increasingly conscious and concerned about recycling and protecting the environment, the Responsible Recycling Practices Standard, known as R2, is a timely and significant new tool for addressing this serious challenge. Developed by a group of recycling stakeholders and facilitated by the EPA, the R2 accreditation standard is a set of voluntary principles and guidelines designed to promote and assess responsible practices for electronics recyclers. R2 requires implementing a management system which is accountable for practices affecting worker health and safety, security, the environment, and the downstream management, both domestically and internationally, of end-of-life electronic material and equipment. It encompasses rather than replaces the legal obligations of electronics recyclers. Additionally, R2 is particularly focused on electronics which contain cathode ray tubes, circuit boards, items containing mercury/PCBs, and batteries, and seeks to ensure that these materials are not incinerated or landfilled.

Key benefits of R2 certification and implementation:

• Promotes safe and effective recovery and reuse of electronic equipment and materials
• Guards downstream control of the recycling chain
• Minimizes environmental and public health risks
• Demonstrates compliance with domestic and international laws
• Minimizes liability and encourages reduced insurance costs for recyclers
• Assists original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) with due diligence for their end-of-life electronics
• Instills public confidence through certified third party review