E-Stewards introduces unannounced verification inspections
The Basel Action Network (BAN), Seattle, has introduced its Performance Verification (PV) initiative, which it says is designed “to increase rigor and confidence among stakeholders in its e-Stewards® certification program.” The PV will involve random unannounced on-site facility inspections to verify ongoing day-to-day performance is meeting the e-Stewards Standard, BAN says. The inspections will be in addition to the normal, prescribed yearly scheduled third-party audits performed by accredited certification bodies.
The new pilot program, which BAN says was approved unanimously by the multistakeholder e-Stewards Leadership Council, started in May. E-Stewards volunteers led the program’s development, with the call for volunteers issued the week of March 2 along with a notice of changes to the standard to accommodate the program.
The program is funded by a $250-per-site levy on current e-Stewards recyclers’ auditable sites. BAN says the cost is expected to be more than compensated as increased confidence in the program attracts new enterprise customers.
“The response to this idea from our e-Stewards Certified Recyclers and their customers has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Greg Swan, certification director and e-Stewards interim director. “It’s clear that major enterprise and government customers demand greater accountability from our recyclers in light of the numerous horror stories of private data releases and widespread dumping of toxic e-waste overseas, as well as in local landfills and warehouses.”
Precedence for heightened and unannounced oversight activities exists with many standards already, BAN says, including the European Union’s CE Marking program related to medical device safety and with the Phoenix-based National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) certification program for information destruction.
“We seek to provide an opportunity for e-Stewards recyclers to demonstrate they operate every day in accordance with their own management systems and the e-Stewards Standard,” Swan says. “In turn, this provides customers with greater confidence that we are indeed always accountable.”
During the inspections, e-Stewards recyclers will be asked to demonstrate conformity with selected requirements of the e-Stewards Standard, BAN says. If evidence is discovered that shows day-to-day operations are not in accordance with the standard, appropriate action will be taken to safeguard the brand and to ensure the nonconformance is dealt with in a way that is to commensurate with the gravity of the circumstances discovered, BAN says.
Sims Recycling Solutions US operations achieve R2:2013 certification
West Chicago, Illinois-based Sims Recycling Solutions, a leading provider of global IT asset disposal (ITAD) services, says it recently upgraded its Responsible Recycling Practices (R2) certification from R2:2008 to the latest R2:2013 Standard at its U.S. locations. Sims currently maintains R2 certification at its operations in the United States, India and Australia. This certification, among others, helps demonstrate the consistency in services and standards across the globe, according to Sims.
The R2 Standard was introduced in 2008 and updated in 2013 to improve safety, data security, exportation and equipment tracking requirements. The Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI) is the nonprofit organization that administers the standard.
“As a global company in a developing industry, we understand the significance of staying on top of the latest standards and security developments,” says Sean Magann, vice president of Sims Recycling Solutions. “It is always encouraging to see a certifying organization working hard to increase the industry’s level of standards, ensuring all are up to date with the latest in safety, security and environmental responsibility.”
As part of this upgrade, tools and resources were made available to R2-certified facilities along with an implementation guide. Guidance also was provided for identification of acceptable downstream vendors, tracking of focus materials and avoidance and corrections of common nonconformances, Sims says.
Sims Recycling Solutions provides disposition services for all types of retired electronic equipment to local, national and global customers in every business sector, including health care, financial services and technical organizations as well as data centers.
As a part of the world’s leading publicly listed metal and electronics recycler, Sims Metal Management Ltd., with U.S. headquarters in New York City, Sims Recycling Solutions says it has the global reach, expertise and infrastructure needed to ensure that it processes electronic devices in a secure and environmentally responsible manner.