What is that you ask?
In 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) convened a multi-stakeholder meeting to promote best practices in electronics recycling. Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI) grew out of this process. SERI is the housing body and ANSI-credited standards development organization for Responsible Recycling – R2 – standards. SERI’S mission is to create a world were electronic products are reused and recycled in a way that preserves resources, the well-being of the environment and the health and safety of workers and communities. Initially, the focus was on protecting the environment. Over the years, the R2 standards have evolved. R2 is in its third iteration, now R2V3 Certification. Today, the goal is to facilitate a circular lifecycle for electronics, maximizing their value at each stage in the life of devices.
What It Took to Achieve R2V3 Certification
Certification requires documenting the processes and procedures of a facility and incorporating the R2 practices into them. A facility must have an approved Environment Health and Safety (EHS) program. Also, if a facility tests, repairs and/or resells items it must also have a Quality Management System. Over the summer, the entire team at EVR participated in rigorous education and training. Everything from potential hazard exposure training to the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) was covered. For ISRI’s Safety Stand Down Day we reviewed the proper use of a fire extinguishers. We tested the air, took wipe samples and monitored exposure to noise. In addition, teams that test devices and wipe hard drives received training that included physical and digital management to validate all inbound equipment, maintain inventory accuracy, and develop protocols for failed devices. All policies and procedures were meticulously documented.
It was stressful, exciting and finally, rewarding to achieve R2V3 Certification.
So, if you wondered why EVR was so quiet on social media over the summer, take a look at what we were up to! As you can see, it wasn’t all work and no play. We still honored the employee of the month. One of the team welcomed a baby. And someone mistook a skee ball machine for an electronic device! One of our core values is “fun” and it has been a great source of entertainment and competition.