Redemtech Becomes Canada’s First E-Stewards-Certified Recycler

Redemtech is now e-Stewards certified at three locations.

June 22, 2012
Recycling Today Staff

Certification Electronics

The IT asset disposition firm Redemtech, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, has announced that its Guelph, Ontario, technology change management (TCM) center has been certified to the e-Stewards Standard. Redemtech says it is the first company in Canada to be e-Stewards certified.

"As Canada's first e-Stewards-certified recycler, we are uniquely qualified to meet the demands of government agencies and companies in Canada for e-waste disposition practices that meet the highest standards for protecting the environment and ensuring corporate social responsibility," says Kuljit Parmar, president, Redemtech Canada. "Our deep understanding of the Canadian marketplace and regulatory environment enables us to eliminate risk from the recycling process and deliver a solution that exceeds customer expectations."

Redemtech's operations in the United States and United Kingdom also are e-Stewards certified, with the U.K. location becoming the first certified recycler in Europe in September 2010, the company says.

Redemtech Canada's Ontario TCM Center is also ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001 certified, while the company’s British Columbia facility is in the process of completing these certifications and e-Stewards.

"These certifications demonstrate our commitment to serving large enterprises as a global partner that can deliver a consistent offering across borders, languages and industries that surpasses customer expectations and delivers on world-class standards of practice," says Robert Houghton, president of Redemtech.

"This achievement reflects Redemtech's long-term commitment to globally responsible electronics recycling," says Jim Puckett, executive director of the Basal Action Network (BAN), Seattle, which administers the e-Stewards program. "As the first e-Steward in Canada, Redemtech is ensuring the highest standards of environmental stewardship as it expands its global presence."

Blancco Introduces Centralized Management Console

Blancco says its solutions for enterprise data erasure combine smoother process automation with powerful multitasking capabilities.

June 22, 2012
SDB Staff

Electronics Equipment & Products

In the war against data breaches, enterprises often focus on malware or hackers, overlooking the very real threat from improperly disposed electronic equipment. According to data from the San Diego-based Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, 25 percent of data breaches in 2011 were the result of lost, discarded or stolen stationary or portable devices, representing 40 percent of all exposed records.

Blancco 5 data erasure software and centralized Management Console, helps enterprises proactively fight against costly data breach fines and related risks, according to Blancco, with U.S. operations based in Atlanta. The company says its erasure solutions support fast, simple and complete data removal from electronic devices ranging from laptops and PCs to storage arrays in high-end servers for data center environments.

“As the digital universe is doubling every 18 months and the spectrum of device platforms is rapidly becoming more and more fragmented, efficiency, extensive platform coverage and automation are an absolute must for present and future data erasure needs,” says Markku Willgren, president of Blancco’s U.S. operations. “Blancco 5, combined with our new Blancco Management Console, takes process automation, execution and security of data erasure to an advanced level. It also offers an extremely fast and user-friendly experience with upgraded interfaces, dashboards, and other efficiency-oriented features.”

He adds that Blancco 5 is flexible enough to erase multiple hardware platforms while providing centralized administration and an array of reports that can assist with audit procedures in regulated industries, such as health care, banking and retail.

Used with Blancco 5, the Management Console is designed to further streamlines data security and erasure processes by providing online management and automation from a central console supported by user-friendly dashboards and widgets, the company says. Erasure policy management and data erasure reporting are two of the many processes automated through Blancco Management Console. This solution also integrates with other Blancco products for erasure of LUNs (logical unit numbers), flash drives and mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

Blancco Management Console centrally stores erasure reports to support asset and chain of custody tracking and provide transparency for software and hardware audits to prove erasure compliance and avoid regulatory fines. It also integrates with asset management and ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems and supports export and email of erasure reports, depending on administrator-defined user rights, Blancco says.

Natural Evolution Receives E-Stewards Certification

Company says it is the first electronics recycler in Oklahoma to be certified to the e-Stewards Standard.

June 22, 2012
Recycling Today Staff

Certification Electronics

Natural Evolution, a Native American, woman-owned electronics recycling company based in Tulsa, Okla., has become the state’s first recycler certified to the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronics, according to a press release from the Basel Action Network (BAN). Seattle-based BAN administers the e-Stewards program.

Natural Evolution says it received e-Stewards certification after passing a rigorous audit to ensure globally responsible handing of electronic scrap. Companies applying for e-Stewards certification also must have an ISO 14001 environmental management system certification. Natural Evolution also received R2 (Responsible Recycling Practices) certification, a second certification for the electronics recycling industry.

According to Traci Phillips, CEO of Natural Evolution, her decision to undergo certification confirms the company's decade-long commitment to recycling electronics without causing environmental, economic or social harm anywhere in the world.

"It is our belief that the e-Stewards Standard is by far the most rigorous and responsible standard that exists today for the electronics recycling industry," Phillips says. "It provides for the continuous monitoring and auditing of downstream recyclers and material flow, ensures the proper handling of e-waste and prevents the illicit export of hazardous waste to developing countries."

Jim Puckett, executive director of BAN, says, "We're thrilled to have Natural Evolution as a member of our growing community of responsible certified e-Stewards recyclers. They bring truly responsible electronics recycling services to companies and communities throughout the Southwest and Midwest regions of the United States."

Round2’s Ohio Plant Receives R2/RIOS Certification

Company’s facility in central Ohio is the most recent of its plants to achieve the certification.

June 22, 2012
Recycling Today Staff

Certification Electronics

The electronics recycling firm Round2 Inc., based in Austin, Texas, has earned the Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices/Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) Certified Electronics Recycler designation.

Round2 is a subsidiary of Avent Co., a distributor of electronic components, including connectors and semiconductors, within Avenet Integrated.

Round2 achieved its certification following extensive audits at its Grove City, Ohio, processing center. Round2 also holds R2, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications at all of its other North American processing centers.

“We have a long-standing reputation in the industry for our commitment to excellence,” says Randy Weiss, Round2 president. “Receiving our R2/RIOS certification clearly demonstrates this commitment, while recognizing the rigorous standards to which we adhere in all aspects of our operations.”

R2/RIOS combines two industry standards. The R2 standard establishes a hierarchy for the safe and responsible handling of electronic scrap through reuse and resource recovery. RIOS, developed by the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI), outlines a framework for a comprehensive, integrated management system.

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