Electronics, Certification

BAN says it will use GPS trackers regularly

The Seattle-based Basel Action Network (BAN) has announced it will make regular use of embedded GPS-based tracking devices, placing them in used electronic equipment to verify the performance of e-Stewards certified recyclers.

BAN says it created the e-Stewards Standard and certification program as a way for recyclers to comply with international agreements prohibiting the export of certain types of electronic scrap to developing countries.

By using geo-locating trackers as part of a project earlier in 2016, BAN says it was able to determine that 40 percent of the monitors and printers it delivered to U.S. electronics recyclers were exported, often to developing countries.

“Sadly, once the auditor is gone, it is far too easy for unscrupulous recyclers to fill containers and ship hazardous e-waste to developing countries in contravention of international law,” says Sarah Westervelt, policy director of the e-Stewards program. “But e-Stewards recyclers want to be ‘caught doing the right thing.’ At our recent recycler meeting, they unanimously endorsed the idea of the ongoing use of trackers.”

A news release from BAN says e-Stewards certification is now the only electronics recycling certification in the world that uses GPS tracking technology to verify performance. BAN says it expects “many large customers will be greatly comforted by this development.”

ERI earns NAID AAA Certification at three facilities

Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), Fresno, California, says it has achieved AAA certification for data destruction from the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID), Phoenix, at its facilities in California, Indiana and Massachusetts. ERI says its goal is to have all its locations NAID certified by January 2017.

NAID is a professional organization that sets the industry standards for responsible data destruction. Its standards and practices are recognized globally.

“We are extremely proud to have received AAA certification from NAID for three of our operations,” says John S. Shegerian, chairman and CEO of ERI. “Not only has ERI met the strictest standards of environmental and operational excellence, we have now also reconfirmed our ongoing commitment to data destruction, as assessed by the planet’s leading authorities on the subject.”

He continues, “With current technological innovations, there is very fast turnover when it comes to business and private computers, laptops, cellphones and other consumer electronic devices. Proper destruction of private digital data has become a crucially important issue. NAID certification shows we are at the forefront of that issue.”

In early November, Electronic Recyclers International announced that it had rebranded as ERI in response to expanding its services beyond electronics recycling to include recovery, reporting and regulatory guidance. ERI also launched a new URL for its website, www.ERIdirect.com.

“While we do still lead the nation in the recycling of electronics and e-waste, the shortening of our name to ERI reflects the tremendous growth in our capabilities over the last several years and that we are leading the charge in so much more than recycling now,” Shegerian says. “Whether it is recommerce, recovery, reporting, recycling or regulatory guidance, the ‘R’ in our name applies to our multiple service offerings. We are also leaders in the ITAD (information technology asset disposition) space for secure data destruction and hardware data security, which has become a huge part of what we do,” he adds.