The Seven Reasons Why R-2 Recycling Is The Nationwide E-Waste Recycling Leader
E-waste can be dangerous and cause pollution to enter the environment. It can also cause problems with worker health and safety. Finally, the risk of allowing company data to reside on old devices could lead to data theft and financial loss. For these reasons and many others, adhering to the R2 standard is important.
The R2 standard was created to provide electronics recyclers with a detailed plan to make sure that their facilities & practices are safe, environmentally-friendly, and effective. R2 Recycling works with a nationwide network of R2-certified recyclers that are fully committed to following this standard.
The standard was established to encourage the reuse and recycling of all electronic items while providing for the safety risks that could be connected with their processing. Overall, the goal is to help the industry leave a smaller environmental footprint.
Here are seven reasons why electronics recyclers should be R2 certified.
1. Emphasis on Safe Processes
The R2 protocol is primarily meant to ensure that workers and the environment will be safe from harmful contaminants. Problem byproducts like dust and heavy metals could cause serious disease. In addition, workplaces need to be kept free of any unnecessary physical hazards to workers’ safety. The R2 standard provides a clear and workable guideline for setting up a recycling operation without compromising workers’ health and safety.
The byproducts of electronics recycling can also damage the environment, especially when they contact groundwater. R2 certified companies are prepared to keep the environment from being compromised by these dangerous substances. This means that the buildings where electronics recycling is undertaken can be safely used by other types of companies in the future.
2. Compliance with International Standards
R2 certification requires that companies adhere to ISO standards. ISO is a safety framework followed by companies all over the world. The requirements are tough, and companies that complete the certification are safer places to work as well as being more modern and efficient.
The ISO certifications that must be obtained include the 45001 health and safety standard and the 14001 environmental standard. The health and safety standard is intended to protect workers from illness, injury, and death. It also protects workers from compromising their physical, mental, and cognitive function.
The 14001 environmental standard provides a framework for an effective environmental management system. An environmental management system helps to fulfill compliance obligations while assessing risk. This certification will help to improve efficiency, reduce waste, cut down on costs, and lessen the negative environmental impact of a company’s activities, among other functions.
3. Fully Compliant with Legal Standards
Around the world, there is a patchwork of laws and rules dealing with e-waste recycling firms. These rules govern everything from the labor used in electronics recycling companies to the proper disposal of byproducts. Becoming R2 certified will ensure that companies are in compliance with all of these legal standards so that they can perform their tasks without fear of government action against them.
4. Secure Data Management
One of the most important provisions of R2-compliant activity is that data held on reused or recycled electronic products is properly erased or destroyed. Data security is one of the priorities of today’s electronics recycling firms. Under the provisions of the standard, a staff member is designated to be in charge of data security. All of the processes that remove data from old equipment are governed by the standard.
R2 Recycling is dedicated to making sure that companies’ data remains secure at all times. They have stringent requirements for erasing data from electronics brought to their facility. If the data cannot be wiped, the item will be destroyed in a secure shredder.
5. Reducing the World’s Waste Stream
Proper electronics recycling under the standard helps to reduce the world’s waste stream. Since many R2-compliant companies can break old products down and reuse their component parts, as well as refurbishing old products, the waste stream is made smaller. Having fewer products end up in incinerators or landfills is better for the environment as well as the ethical operation of these companies.
R2 certification means that the maximum amount of value is extracted from each piece of equipment that is recycled. This saves companies money as well as adhering to strict environmental standards.
6. Special Care of Hazardous Materials
Focus materials are carefully handled by R2-compliant companies. These materials include CRT glass, mercury, batteries, circuit boards, and PCBs (polychlorinated bi-phenyls). All of these components could be dangerous to human health as well as the environment. Certified companies must have clear-cut plans for their focus materials, including having the expertise needed to take care of these materials.
Flowcharts are created which track the downstream recycling chain all the way to final disposition. When materials are ready for final disposition, this means that they need no more processing before it is possible to dispose of them safely.
7. Protecting Workers in Developing Countries
The electronics recycling industry once employed many residents of developing countries without much concern for their health and safety. Repeated exposure to the environmental contaminants associated with electronics recycling caused problems. As a result, some countries stopped accepting the importation of e-waste that was intended to be recycled. R2-compliant firms go a long way toward protecting workers in less-developed countries, preventing their labor from being exploited.
Working with R2-Compliant Firms
The process of becoming R2-certified can be time-consuming and expensive, but it is absolutely necessary for responsible electronics recycling firms. These seven points clearly show why it is a good idea for electronics recycling companies to become certified in the R2 standard.
R2 Recycling works with companies that have been certified under the R2 standard. This means that all of their byproducts are being monitored for safety. Dealing with R2-compliant companies gives R2 Recycling peace of mind and ensures that they are not damaging the environment or worker safety through their activities.
Originally published at https://www.atebits.com on January 7, 2021.
