e-Stewards Accepts RIOS Standard In Its Electronic Waste Stewardship Certification Program

RIOS to Discount e-Stewards Certified Recyclers

The e-Stewards certification program will now accept the RIOS (Recycling Industry Operating Standard) as an alternative Environmental Management System (EMS) to the now required ISO 14001 Standard. RIOS was designed specifically for the Recycling industry and is already held by over 150 electronics recyclers worldwide.

The change is now reflected in the newly published version 4.1 of the e-Stewards Standard for Ethical and Responsible Reuse, Recycling, and Disposition of Electronic Equipment and Information Technology.

“We are very happy to give our e-Stewards certified electronics recyclers and refurbishers greater flexibility by adding RIOS as a management system option,” said Ms. Prema George, e-Stewards Certification Director. “For many, it’s a familiar standard and thus provides a welcome mat for companies looking to add e-Stewards certification.”

RIOS will grant e-Stewards certified processors a 50% discount off RIOS fees to encourage adoption.

“This new partnership with e-Stewards is a win for everyone involved – most importantly the recyclers and refurbishers of used electronics and electronic scrap.” said Darrell Kendall, Executive Director of RIOS. “With the inclusion of RIOS in the e-Stewards Standard, we have expanded our list of existing partnerships in the industry and opened the door wider for every company in the field. We hope that through our partnership with e-Stewards, we can work together to continue making substantial improvement across the industry in the areas of health and safety and environmental sustainability.”

RIOS will be conducting a special workshop on Electronics Recycling at the upcoming Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) conference this year in March in Las Vegas. Jim Puckett, environmental leader and founder of the Basel Action Network (administrator of e-Stewards), will attend.