MASER EXPANDS ONTARIO PLANT
When MaSeR Corp., Marblehead, Mass., started up its Barrie, Ontario, Canada, facility in March of 2005, the concept was to provide service to its key client, co-located in Barrie, along with other electronic scrap recyclers throughout Canada. (See "System Upgrade" in the October 2005 issue of Recycling Today.)
But the company says that electronics recyclers throughout North America have expressed interest in shipping material to Ontario to test out and to use the MaSeR system, so the company has upgraded some of its front-end processing equipment to accommodate more material.
The Barrie operation is now capable of processing from three to five tons of electronic scrap per hour, according to the firm.
MaSeR’s technology incorporates a de-lamination process along with shredding and separation technology to provide maximum recovery of materials from electronic scrap.
Its main client and Barrie landlord Cable Recycling Inc. (CRI-GEEP) considers the MaSeR process key to the growth of its electronics recycling business. "Our clients, particularly Canadian OEMs, will not tolerate unchecked export of electronic scrap and, at the same time, demand an efficient and cost-effective alternative," says Alfred Hambsch, CEO of Barrie Metals and CRI-GEEP. "They see our asset recovery capabilities, coupled with complete material recovery in the MaSeR process, as an opportunity to dramatically reduce the cost of responsible domestic processing."
MaSeR’s business plan calls for similar operations in the United States, Europe and Asia within the next few years. In the meantime, the upgraded Barrie operation is providing U.S. recyclers with an alternative to de-manufacturing for some items. "We’re quite pleased that the U.S. e-recycling community has responded in the manner in which they have," says Dale Johnson, CEO of MaSeR Corp.
MaSeR’s major investor is Greenwich, Conn.-based Asia West, which backs other advanced environmental technology companies, including recyclers MBA Polymers and Mobius Technologies, both based in California.
NCER, CEA JOIN EFFORTS
The National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER), Wood Park, W.Va., and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), Arlington, have joined together to form the National Electronics Recycling Infrastructure Clearinghouse (NERIC) initiative. Through NERIC, the organizations will assist in the development of a national electronics recycling infrastructure.
In a joint press release, NCER and CEA say the initiative "represents a key step in the ultimate formation of a harmonized system for managing used electronics across the nation."
Jason Linnell, executive director of the NCER, says, "This initiative encompasses many of the important principles embraced by the NCER since its formation last year, which are active participation of the electronics industry, research and education on the benefits of multi-state harmonization of recycling systems and cooperative action among public and private sector stakeholder groups."
Parket Brugge, CEA senior director and environmental counsel, says, "We expect the NERIC initiative to provide key information to a range of stakeholders interested in electronics recycling systems."
The NERIC Web site at www.ecyclingresource.org will track the initiative’s progress. On the site, electronics recycling stakeholders can find information on initial NERIC projects, such as information and analysis on the data necessary for a consistent national system designed to promote system harmonization across states, according to the press release.
MAINE ENACTS PRODUCER-PAYS PROGRAM FOR ELECTRONICS
The state of Maine has launched the first manufacturer-funded electronics recycling program in the United States.
Under the law, which went into effect in mid-January, municipalities send discarded computer and television monitors to consolidation centers that are fully funded by TV and computer monitor makers selling products in the state. The manufacturers also pay to safely ship and to recycle the electronics. The manufacturers’ costs are apportioned according to the number of their units recovered in Maine, including a share of "orphan units," which are made by manufacturers that are now out of business.
Under the law, manufacturers can take back their own products directly, if they prefer.
According to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Maine has plans from more than six dozen manufacturers indicating their compliance with the law. Maine’s DEP has also adopted rules to control costs and has approved five consolidators to manage collections.
"I am proud that Mainers have shown our strong environmental leadership again, this time tackling the safe recycling of electronic waste to keep toxics out of our environment," Maine Gov. John Baldacci says in a press release issued by the state’s DEP. "Maine’s electronic waste recycling law based on product stewardship is a national model as it protects our environment, saves taxpayers money and puts costs where they belong to encourage safe design and recycling of electronic wastes."
METECH RENEWS ISO CERTIFICATIONS
Metech International, based in Worcester, Mass., reports that it has renewed its ISO 9001:2000 certification and updated its ISO 14001:1996 certification to ISO 14001:2004 at both of its North American facilities following a recent audit.
Metech, a leading recycler of electronic industrial manufacturing scrap, obsolete inventory, non-conforming materials and end-of-life electronics, has additional ISO 9001 and 14001 certified facilities in Gilroy, Calif., and Penang, Malaysia.
"Continued ISO certification confirms our commitment to the responsible handling of electronic materials," Metech President Sam Advani says. "We have always held ourselves to a higher standard of quality control and environmental responsibility. ISO certification provides us with a globally recognized platform upon which to continuously improve our business practices. "
ISO 9001:2000 is an internationally recognized standard covering a company’s implementation of a quality management system, while ISO 14001:2004 ensures a company has established a structured Environmental Management System.
Explore the March 2006 Issue
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