Electronics, Certification

E-Stewards streamlines standard

E-Stewards, Seattle, has announced a new version of the “e-Stewards Standard for the Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment.” Version 4.0 is designed to be shorter, simpler and less prescriptive while retaining and improving performance and rigor, particularly in the area of data security, the organization says in a news release.

“In this version, we are taking smart steps to create a far more user-friendly version of e-Stewards while maintaining the rigor and accountability we are famous for,” says Jim Puckett, executive director and founder of the Basel Action Network (BAN) and administrator of the e-Stewards Program.

The standard has been under development by a Technical Committee subcommittee for eight months. Oct. 21 marked the start of a 30-day period reserved for licensed e-Stewards Certified Recyclers and Refurbishers and e-Steward Enterprises to enter comments on the revision. Following that initial review, a final open comment period of three weeks will provide an opportunity for the general public to comment. The final release of the standard is set for February 2020.

The 4.0 draft standard features:

• a requirement for separate certification to ISO 14001:2015;
• removal of the integrated ISO 14001 text while maintaining the ISO ordering;
• a requirement for separate data security certification (National Association for Information Destruction, or NAID);
• fewer documents to be prepared and held;
• performance verification via random unannounced inspections and GPS tracking;
• incorporation of new Basel Convention trade rules;
• reduced length (about two-thirds the length of version 3.1); and
• more user-friendly, clearer and streamlined requirements.

The new standard also will be publicly available at no cost.