Leading Electronics Manufacturing Recycling Association MRM Joins Forces With e-Stewards

MRM, the Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company, has joined the growing ranks of organizations, associations, corporations, and municipalities as the newest e-Stewards Enterprise Partner, dedicated to promoting and utilizing e-Stewards Certified Recyclers. MRM was founded in 2007, by electronics manufacturers for electronics manufacturers, to help provide convenient, environmentally responsible recycling opportunities for US consumers. MRM joins LG, Samsung, Sony, VIZIO and the Closed Loop Fund among many other corporate partners finding value and confidence in the e-Stewards program.

MRM, based in Minnesota, recently passed the “one billion pounds recycled” milestone, and now serves more than 50 global electronics manufacturing companies in their search for reputable recyclers and convenient management of e-waste requirements. Its mission brings manufacturers together to meet the need for recycling opportunities for consumers in the United States and look for new ways to benefit the circular economy. MRM monitors state recycling regulations, vets and audits recyclers, connecting them with manufacturers, and assists in ensuring manufacturer compliance with all applicable laws.

“It is clear that e-Stewards is among the highest standards for responsible and ethical recycling,” said Tricia Conroy, Executive Director of MRM. “Thus, the partnership is a perfect fit for MRM and its participating organizations. We strive to manage end-of-life electronics with the same transparency, sustainability, and compliance that our participating manufacturers achieve when creating products.”

e-Stewards Enterprise Partners agree to make best efforts to promote and use e-Stewards Certified recyclers and refurbishers for their electronic waste and IT assets. e-Stewards Certified recyclers undergo rigorous third-party audits annually to ensure they do not export hazardous byproducts to developing nations or dump in municipal landfills. To further verify strict conformity with proper recycling, e-Stewards recyclers agree to be subject to unannounced inspections at any time, as well as unannounced use of GPS trackers to track e-waste flows downstream. Further, e-Stewards Certified recyclers ensure that confidential personal and business data is securely and completely sanitized and that their operations protect workers and the environment.

“We are elated to partner with MRM which includes many leading electronics brands, and are gratified to see they have chosen to work hand in hand with us to ensure the electronics industry maintains its leadership role in creating a future where the economy is circular and ethical,” said Jim Puckett, founder and director of the Basel Action Network (BAN) which created and administers the e-Stewards program.

Besides being the gold e-recycling standard, e-Stewards offers a package of community outreach partnership programs including the e-Stewards Digital Equity (eDE) program, which fosters re-use for community good by refurbishing computers for the needy, and the recently announced ADVANCE+ program which provides recycling jobs in the ITAD sector for autistic individuals. Last year e-Stewards announced that they would be requiring NAID (National Association for Information Destruction) certification to bring the e-Stewards data security requirements to the highest level. They also announced the EarthEye GPS tracking service to provide recyclers and their customers 24/7 tracking of downstream e-waste disposition.