"ISRI has taken a very large positive step forward to address the market's demand for responsible electronics recycling practices," said Robin Wiener, ISRI’s president. "ISRI's months-long effort seeks to balance the vital need to protect the environment and the health and safety of workers in the U.S. and in other countries, and to encourage investment in the e-recycling marketplace."
Over the past several months, ISRI's Electronics Recycling Council worked with the U.S. EPA and other industry stakeholders to develop best practices for the electronics segment of the scrap recycling industry.
ISRI's voluntary electronic recycling practices are geared for companies looking to ensure obsolete electronic products are e-recycled in compliance with all applicable environmental, health, and safety regulations and in a manner that protects the global environment and the health and safety of workers throughout the world.
ISRI's Electronics Council, representing the leaders in the scrap electronics industry, specifically designed the best practices to be incorporated by reference into ISRI's Recycling Industry Operating Standard.
ISRI spent close to three years developing standard that integrate industry-specific standards into a comprehensive environment, quality, and health and safety environmental management system. The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board agreed to develop and administer an accompanying accreditation system for RIOS certifiers.
"We now have an entire system in place whereby electronics recyclers can implement RIOS, incorporate ISRI's best management practices, and have their system accredited and audited by ANAB, an internationally recognized organization," Wiener said.
Information about ISRI's Electronics Recycling Operating Guidelines and the Design for Recycling(R) program is available at http://www.isri.org.