Washington, D.C. – The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) Inc., today applauded AERC Recycling Solutions of Hayward, California, on earning the prestigious industry designation R2/RIOS Certified Electronics Recycler® for its Electronics Processing Com-Cycle facility. R2/RIOS™ remains the only certification standard tailored specifically for recyclers and focused on promoting quality products, environmental protection, and the health and safety of workers both in the United States and abroad.
“These certifications put AERC Recycling Solutions and its Com-Cycle facilities at the forefront of this rapidly growing industry,” ISRI President Robin Wiener said. “There is no higher or more exacting standard. When a company like AERC becomes R2/RIOS™ certified, it is announcing to their competitors and colleagues alike that they have the very highest business and social responsibility standards, but more so, that they are willing to prove it.”
R2/RIOS™, the most affordable and widely used standard, is derived from a combination of two of the industry’s most stringent sets of guidelines: R2, Responsible Recycling Practices, and RIOS™, the Recycling Industry Operating Standard™. Certification to the two standards for responsible electronics reuse and recycling is recognized in the market as a company that is a Certified Electronics Recycler®.
“Four of our Com-Cycle facilities are R2/RIOS™ certified. Later this year, the company anticipates all Com-Cycle facilities will be classified as a Certified Electronics Recycler®, which is a testament to AERC’s commitment to compliance,” said Peter J. Jegou, Chief Executive Officer of AERC Recycling Solutions.
Electronics recycling is a fast-growing industry that creates good-paying, green jobs and boosts the U.S. and global economies, all while protecting the environment and promoting health, safety and security throughout the electronics recycling process.
According to the 2011 Electronics Recycling Industry Survey, the U.S. electronics recycling industry continues to show tremendous growth and strong domestic capacity. The $5 billion-a-year industry that employs more than 30,000 full-time workers in the United States collected and processed over 3.5 million tons of used and end-of-life electronics equipment in 2010, up from 1.8 million tons in 2009.
RIOS™ is the first and only standard for integrated quality, environmental and health and safety (QEH&S) management systems developed specifically for the recycling industry. RIOS™ was developed by ISRI, and includes standards for safe and responsible electronics recycling.
R2 was the first recycling standard specifically targeting electronics recycling and was developed and supported by stakeholders including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), major computer OEMs such as Lenovo and Dell, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), state and local governments and ISRI. R2 includes general principles and specific practices for recyclers disassembling or reclaiming used electronics equipment; its strict “Reuse, Recovery, Dispose” hierarchy of methods ensures that electronic scrap is properly handled.