e-Stewards

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e-Stewards Certification is a leading global program designed to ensure proper handling and disposal of old electronic equipment. The e-Stewards logo allows individuals and organizations the ability to identify recyclers that adhere to the highest standard of environmental responsibility and worker protection. e-Stewards Certification is open to electronics recyclers, refurbishers and processors. The intent of the standard is to provide a rigorous set of criteria to prevent irresponsible or illegal handling of hazardous waste and/or e-waste streams, while promoting data security, social responsibility, and environmental protection.

A few of the key components of e-Stewards include:

• Prohibition of disposal of toxic wastes from electronic equipment in solid waste landfills and incinerators
• Requirements for compliance with international hazardous waste treaties for exports and imports of electronics, and specifically prohibits the export of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries
• Prohibition the use of prison labor in the recycling of toxic wastes from electronics, which often have sensitive data embedded
• Requirements for baseline protections for, and monitoring of, recycling workers in every country, including developed nations where toxic exposures are routinely taking place
• International applicability

The standard was developed by leaders in the e-waste industry with the intent that the standard could be implemented by all types and sizes of companies. The standard requires a separate ISO 14001 certification, but also incorporates significant components of Occupational, Health and Safety, data sanitization, social accountability and other BAN requirements. Regardless of a company’s size and the type of e-waste processing conducted on-site, the e-Stewards certification program provides a high level of confidence that a recycler consistently conforms to the e-Stewards Standard.

Certification to e-Stewards will provide your company with many benefits, such as:

• Positioning yourself for federal contracts since the federal government now requires all federal facilities to recycle their e-waste with a certified e-Stewards or R2 recycler.
• Demonstrating to customers that your company is in compliance with domestic and international laws.
• Instilling public confidence through certified third-party review.
• Helping protect against environmental and human health impacts from improper recycling.
• Promoting safe and effective recovery and reuse of equipment to those who need them.
• Helping reduce mining and processing of virgin materials, which will reduce environmental impact by conserving our limited natural resources.