The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently held a webinar on how to avoid the pitfalls of e-waste recycling. The online meeting, hosted by Chris Newman from EPA Region 5, laid out some best practices for selecting the right recycler for eWaste (eCycling). The reasons for eCycling are simple: to protect your data, and your customers’ data, electronics should be disposed of in a traceable and secure way. According to the EPA, eCycling doesn’t necessarily mean shredding machines that are no longer in use; responsible recyclers can wipe computers clean and reuse some parts.
According to the EPA, the key to finding the best eWaste recycler for the firm and the environment is to “Trust, but verify.” The responsible firm should verify the claims their eCyclers make. The EPA reports that some unscrupulous eCyclers will use will use an “EPA ID #” as proof of certification, when it’s actually just an accounting tool. Mr. Newman says that the EPA doesn’t certify recyclers but there are several groups that do certify recyclers’ practices.
The Responsible Recycling Coalition (R2) is one of two certifications in the U.S. The EPA started R2 in 2008 with industry partners, and initial support of environmental groups. In July 2009, the American National Standards Institute-American Society of Quality National Accreditation Board (ANAB) announced that it will start accrediting companies that will certify recyclers of electronic equipment under the R2 practices. R2 focuses on reducing the human and environmental impacts of recycling electronics. Waste Management recently became the first company to formally adopt these practices.
The other certifying body is the E-Stewards Initiative, which was formed in 2008 by environmental groups that abandoned the R2 partnership when the R2 principals refused to rule out exporting e-waste, incinerating waste electronics, and using prison labor to recycle electronics. In July 2009, the American National Standards Institute-American Society of Quality National Accreditation Board (ANAB) announced that it will start accrediting companies that will certify recyclers of electronic equipment under the E-Stewards Initiative.
EPA’s Chris Newman has posted the full presentation here [PDF].
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When we talk to clients about their technology life-cycle projects, most of the time, their disposal processes are very weak. Owners need to understand the risks they are incurring by tossing equipment in the dumpster or stock-piling them in the closet.
Lawrence Tech University held its first electronic recycling drive last month. The University took in over one ton of unwanted equipment according to the TechNews. The event helped raise awareness about the dangers of electronic waste. There are real environmental dangers associated with discarded electrical and electronic equipment.
