SERI strengthens certification norms to arrest illegal e-waste exports

SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): Colorado-based Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI) has responded to the recently released report titled ‘Scam Recycling: e-Dumping on Asia by US Recyclers’ by BAN highlighting the acts of illegal waste exports out of the country. In the wake of the revelations made in the report, the housing body for R2 standard has decided to strengthen its certification procedures.

According to SERI, the BAN report outlines how illegal exports of electronic waste from the US can lead to harm of workers and communities in developing countries. It admitted that there could be organizations certified under R2 or e-Stewards certification programs in the country that engage in deplorable practices including unlawful exports. SERI noted that steps are already being taken within R2 to address such critical offenders of law. The companies mentioned in the BAN report as violators of certification standards will be removed from the R2 program, SERI added.

The SERI press release states that BAN’s e-Stewards program continues to remain as the key market competitor to the R2 system. It alleged BAN for focusing only on promoting e-Stewards, rather than vying for a permanent solution for the real problem of hazardous waste exports to third world countries. SERI alleged BAN for being concerned more about publicizing the certification program that it owns.

The R2 housing body criticized BAN for not sharing the study results with it. If it were serious about addressing the problem, it should have shared the study results with likeminded organizations. While admitting that all responsible individuals and entities are concerned about the alarming facts highlighted in the report, many still suspect BAN’s claims. SERI notes that the sample size of 205 is too small to generalize the trends prevailing in a big industry such as electronics recycling in the US. It also raised concerns on the technology used in the study.

SERI noted that R2 and e-Stewards must redefine their efforts to ensure that their members are not involved in the acts of illegal and harmful exports of e-waste. SERI has already decided to implement strict measures to identify recyclers that do not comply with rigorous R2 standards. It has been successful in conducting spot audits on a handful of companies during the initial eight-month period of the year. In cases where minor violations were spotted, the agency is working with the responsible companies to rectify them. SERI has also initiated actions to suspend or revoke the permits of those companies who were identified for serious violations.

As per BAN’s report, out of 205 tracked devices passed through the hands of 168 identifiable recyclers, over 45% were involved in a chain leading to exports to third world countries. Also, 87% of the exported devices went to Asia, 3% to Africa, 1% to the Middle East, 1% to Latin America and Caribbean region. The report notes that 53% of LCDs studied were exported, 30% of printers and 18% of CRTs. The majority of these exports went to informal electronic disassembly operations in Hong Kong’s New Territories area.

About SERI

Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the responsible reuse, repair, and recycling of electronic products. SERI is the housing-body for the R2 Standard and works with a coalition of partners to raise awareness of electronics repair and recycling issues around the world.