All computer recyclers are not the same. There are three important factors that should be taken into consideration when choosing a computer recycler: certification, geographic reach and breadth of services. Choosing the right partner will protect your company reputation, ensure compliance with regulations and make the electronic disposition process easy to manage.
Certification
Industry certifications assure you that the company you are working with meets or exceeds a set of industry standards and is fully compliant with applicable regulations. Certifications mean that the company has been subjected to third party audits, and their processes are documented. A Certificate of Recycling you receive is worth nothing if it is not backed by industry accepted certifications.
R2/RIOS Certified companies must meet a broad set of criteria that cover transportation, storage, the recycling process itself as well as employee health and safety. Detailed documentation is required, and you should be able to see it when evaluating a potential recycler.
R2 (Responsible Recycling) is a standard developed by stakeholders from the recycling industry, government, and business and was sponsored by the EPA.
Designed for the recycling industry, the Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) provides a framework for a comprehensive, integrated management system that includes key operational and continual improvement elements for quality, environmental and health and safety (QEH&S) performance.
The combination of R2 and RIOS provides a comprehensive standard for an electronics recycler to meet.
Certified electronics recyclers have demonstrated through audits and other means that they continually meet specific high environmental standards and safely manage used electronics. Once certified, the recycler is held to the particular standard by continual oversight by the independent accredited certifying body.
Geographic Reach
Having multiple locations around the country enables lower costs, lower environmental impacts and redundant capabilities. The ability to provide packing and pickup services to any location large or small—big city or remote outpost—is a critical need. Even if you only have a few locations, and they only need occasional or small pickups, you still want those locations to be served by a certified vendor and meet all of your internal standards.
Breadth of Services
When choosing a computer recycling vendor, all aspects must be carefully considered. Packing, onsite audits, and secure chain of custody and transport are all necessities. Your data security and data destruction needs should always be handled by a skilled and certified vendor. If you wish to remarket your old technology, look for a vendor that can handle reselling for your company as well. Reporting capabilities are essential. You want a vendor who can supply highly detailed environmental and internal asset management reports. The data should go far beyond just the total weight your vendor receives from you. Find a vendor that provides every aspect of computer recycling and meets industry standards in all areas to ensure compliance and the best service overall.
