The e-Stewards certification, headed by Basel Action Network (BAN), endeavours to clamp down on the “toxic trade,” the dumping of toxic material in e-waste in third world and developing countries.
Certified recyclers will pass an independent audit of their policies and gain credentials for their responsibility. It also allows companies making use of recyclers to be certain their collected waste is being disposed of correctly.
The programme has so far received a highly positive response, with 50 companies pledging to be certified by 2011. After being launched last week there are three fully certified recyclers – Newport Computer Services, Redemtech and WeRecycle! LLC, and more than a dozen are awaiting full assessment.
Mick Schum, President of WeRecycle!, said: “We are making history here. Today, e-Stewards Recyclers and their customers are taking a significant step forward in achieving the most responsible level of management for obsolete electronic equipment.
“Now, we can provide a competitive domestic alternative to the irresponsible exportation and dumping that runs rampant throughout the industry. Finally, consumers can really know they are doing the right thing when they recycle their old electronics and as Certified e-Stewards Recyclers, we can prove it.”
To gain e-Stewards Certification, a company must comply with the ISO 14001 standard for environmental management, as well as other requirements such as a complete ban on the export of toxic e-waste from developed to developing countries and the use of landfills, incinerators or prison labour for toxic materials.
Tied in with the standards are stringent rules for worker health and safety, and the correct disposal of any sensitive data that may be contained on computing equipment.
The scheme has garnered support from more than 70 environmental organisations, including Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, as well as support from major corporations. Over a dozen “e-Steward enterprises” will commit to using certified recyclers whenever possible, including Samsung, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.
“Samsung is honored to be the first electronics manufacturer recognized with the e-Stewards standard for rigorous recycling and e-waste materials management,” said Mr. Joongchae Ser, senior vice president for Samsung Electronics America.
“This is a major validation of our efforts as we have responsibly recycled more than 20 million pounds of e-waste since the beginning of our Samsung Recycling Direct program in 2008, and plan to continue strengthening our commitment and leadership in this industry.”
Up to 50 million tons of e-waste is generated worldwide every year according to the United Nations Environment Programme. BAN says that vast amounts of this waste – which often contains toxic and long lasting chemicals and metals – is shipped to poor countries where it is processed in unfit conditions that cause serious environmental and health problems.
The exporting of harmful waste to developing countries was banned in 1995 by the United Nations in an amendment to the Basel Convention, with the US being the only developed country not to ratify it. Although it is illegal for waste from the US to be shipped to 143 countries, it is still a growing problem.
Click here for more information and for details on how to be certified as an e-Steward.