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It wasn’t until relatively recently that the demand for third-party electronic recyclers began to grow significantly. Due to the advancements in technology, consumers began to rapidly repurchase the newest and latest pieces of electronic devices, resulting in old and outdated electronic waste that was ending up in landfills. To curb this growing trend of throwing e-waste in landfills, electronic recyclers stepped in. As these companies grew, it became clear that they also needed to follow a set of safety, environmental and security standards to ensure the best data destruction procedures. Currently, the leading accredited and certified standard for e-recyclers is the Responsible Recycling Standard for Electronics Recyclers, also known as R2 electronics.
To be certified by the R2 standard, a company must be rigorously audited to ensure that all criteria are being met. During the audit, key personnel is interviewed, a detailed tour of the site is taken, and it is determined whether or not all policies and procedures are successfully and appropriately implement onsite. All R2 companies reach standards set out in the implementation guide. Following the implementation guide offers a prototype that shows what the R2 rule is all about.
The implementation guide sets out ten provisions that must be followed. The most well-known rule of the R2 standard is the Environmental, health, and safety management system provision. This provision states that electronic devices are recycled in a way that is environmentally friendly, healthy to employees as well as all tasks being set out safely and securely. Other provisions include legal requirements that ensure data security of e-waste, protocols for effectively gathering reusable materials from electronic devices and more. When looking for an e-recycler for your data destruction needs, be sure to find a company that is R2 certified for the best results.
