R2 / RIOS
Quality Resource Center now offers certification implementation for R2 Responsible Recycling and RIOS Recycling Industry Operating Standards.
e-Stewards Certification Program: The Basel Action Network (BAN) has designed and developed a system by which recyclers, refurbishers, and processors may obtain independent third-party certification of their conformance with the e-Stewards Standard. This certification will first be offered in the United States and Canada through the ANSI/ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB), which is internationally recognized as the source for accreditation for the certification of management systems in the United States. See a synopsis of the e-Stewards standard, and the e-Stewards Program Brochure. BAN also provides a comparison of the e-Stewards standard to the R2 Standard (see below). If you are interested in locating e-stewards, you may search the e-Stewards web site for companies in your area.
Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices for Use in Accredited Certification Programs: This is a set of guidelines for accredited certification programs to assess electronics recyclers’ environmental, worker health and safety, and security practices. Since January 2006, U.S. EPA has facilitated a multi-stakeholder group to develop this document. The voluntary R2 practices include general principles and specific practices for recyclers disassembling or reclaiming used electronics equipment including those electronics that are exported for refurbishment and recycling. The R2 practices are not legal requirements and do not replace electronics recyclers’ legal obligations. Electronics recyclers that adhere to this set of R2 practices are doing so on a voluntary basis. If a requirement of this document conflicts with an applicable legal requirement, the recycler must adhere to the legal requirement.
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) Certification Program: ISRI recently adopted the Responsible Recycling Practices for Use in Accredited Certification Programs for Electronics Recyclers (”R2″) into its RIOS certification program. RIOS (Recycling Industry Operating Standard) is an integrated management system standard that combines the management of quality, environmental, occupational health and safety (QEH&S) issues into a single unified system. Developed specifically by and for the scrap recycling industry, RIOS provides a systematic framework for recycling facilities to use to achieve measurable, continual improvement in their QEH&S performance, without the need to spend time and money in developing and implementing three different systems. R2 is an independent set of voluntary operational practices specific to electronics recycling. The practices were developed over the past two years by a multi-stakeholder effort, led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The group included representatives from federal and state governments, recyclers, electronics manufacturers and trade associations. The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (”ANAB”) and ISRI Services Corportation (ISC) are developing an accreditation program for certifying bodies to enable certification of facilities that use RIOS and R2. For more information, see the RIOS portion of the ISRI web site.
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) Professional Certification: The American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA) offers a professional life cycle analysis certification. In order to obtain the certification, applicants must demonstrate experiance in performing life cycle analyses and must pass a stringent exam, which is only offered through ACLCA.
The R2 standard, facilitated and supported by the US EPA, was the result of a multi-stakeholder process which included government agencies, major OEMs, recyclers, and other experts in sustainability and recycling. R2 requires a management system such as RIOS, as well as stringent controls and tracking of products and materials “downstream” of the recycler, including verifying the legality of exports, health and safety of workers and security of data.
The RIOS standard was designed for the recycling industry and provides a framework for a comprehensive, integrated management system that includes key operational and continual improvement elements for quality, environmental and health and safety performance. The six components of RIOS cover general requirements, policy, planning, implementation, checking and corrective action, and management.
Contact: Jane Birkenstock
Phone: (408) 371-9995
Email: JaneBirk@qrccentral.com
