E-Stewards
Encyclopedia
The e-Stewards programs are initiatives of the Basel Action Network
(BAN), a Seattle based non-profit watchdog organization that works to prevent trade of hazardous waste
from rich to poor countries in accordance with the international Basel Treaty and the Basel Ban Amendment. The e-Stewards qualification program for recyclers began with a group of recyclers committing to the Electronics Recyclers Pledge of True Stewardship and undergoing an independent audit. Jim Puckett, director and founder of BAN, said: "Sadly not all of those companies that call themselves responsible recyclers are truly responsible and many are not recyclers at all, but are just exporters. We have been to the techno-trash dumping grounds of Africa and Asia and seen the children being poisoned. This is why we created the e-Stewards Certification in the first place."
In 2009, BAN released the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment which set forth requirements for becoming a Certified e-Stewards Recycler and "recognizes electronics recyclers that adhere to the most stringent environmentally and socially responsible practices when recovering hazardous electronic materials." Recyclers that were qualified under the Pledge program had until September 1, 2011 to achieve certification to the Standard by an e-Stewards Accredited Certification Body (accredited by ANSI, the American National Standards Institute
). The certification is available to all electronics recyclers. To achieve e-Stewards certification companies are subject to yearly audits to ensure they comply with the standard and have a registered ISO 14001 environmental management system in place, as well as operating a complete ban on the export of toxic e-waste from developed to developing countries and the use of landfill
s, incinerators or prison labour
.
In June, 2011 Santa Clara County, California
(the home of "Silicon Valley
") became the first area in the United States to approve legislation requiring all electronic waste to be processed by e-Stewards certified recyclers.
. It is an industry-specific environmental management system standard that is the basis a and electronics recycling company to become a Certified e-Stewards recycler.
The e-Stewards Standard is written for international use, and is consistent with international waste trade rules, social accountability standards, and environmental management system norms. Embedded within the e-Stewards Standard is ISO 14001, which is the global standard for environmental management systems. Using the ISO 14001 standard as a framework, the e-Stewards Standard adds additional industry-specific performance requirements, which results in a systemic, documented and top management commitment to best management practices for electronics recycling and reuse.
(BAN), businesses, governments and other organizations wishing to demonstrate responsible electronics recycling practices to stakeholders can become e-Stewards Enterprises. In order to do so, they must always make best efforts to use e-Stewards recyclers. They must report annually to BAN on their recycling vendor practices and sign a licensing agreement to use the e-Stewards Enterprise logo and designation. In October, 2010 Santa Clara County, California, became the first county in the United States to achieve e-Stewards Enterprise status.
, England
was the first company outside of the United States to achieve e-Stewards certification. To receive certification, European companies must demonstrate compliance with the European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive
and demonstrate "a level of accountability and audit control that is unprecedented in the industry".
Days after obtaining shipping documents that Chicago Heights, Ill.-based Intercon Solutions says reveals two other companies shipped the two containers in question (AMM, Aug. 1), the company cited new evidence Thursday that one container wasn’t carrying hazardous waste. Importantly, this isn’t the container that BAN alleges was opened in Hong Kong by authorities and found to have hazardous waste. However, BAN’s previous statements to the media have come into question due to its ambiguity." http://www.amm.com/Article/2879866/Intercon-BAN-fight-comes-to-one-container.html
Electronics recycler Intercon Solutions, based in Chicago Heights, Illinois
became the first company denied the e-Stewards certification based on "compelling evidence" that the company had exported hazardous e-waste to China
. Although the company claimed that it did not export any used electronics entrusted to it for recycling, "on two separate occasions BAN investigators photographed and tracked containers of electronic waste leaving property leased by Intercon Solutions in Chicago Heights on its way to China."
Basel Action Network
The Basel Action Network is an non-governmental charitable organization working to combat the export of toxic waste, toxic technology and toxic products from industrialized societies to developing countries. BAN operates globally but is based in Seattle, Washington, United States, with a partner...
(BAN), a Seattle based non-profit watchdog organization that works to prevent trade of hazardous waste
Hazardous waste
A hazardous waste is waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment. According to the U.S. environmental laws hazardous wastes fall into two major categories: characteristic wastes and listed wastes.Characteristic hazardous wastes are materials that are known...
from rich to poor countries in accordance with the international Basel Treaty and the Basel Ban Amendment. The e-Stewards qualification program for recyclers began with a group of recyclers committing to the Electronics Recyclers Pledge of True Stewardship and undergoing an independent audit. Jim Puckett, director and founder of BAN, said: "Sadly not all of those companies that call themselves responsible recyclers are truly responsible and many are not recyclers at all, but are just exporters. We have been to the techno-trash dumping grounds of Africa and Asia and seen the children being poisoned. This is why we created the e-Stewards Certification in the first place."
In 2009, BAN released the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment which set forth requirements for becoming a Certified e-Stewards Recycler and "recognizes electronics recyclers that adhere to the most stringent environmentally and socially responsible practices when recovering hazardous electronic materials." Recyclers that were qualified under the Pledge program had until September 1, 2011 to achieve certification to the Standard by an e-Stewards Accredited Certification Body (accredited by ANSI, the American National Standards Institute
American National Standards Institute
The American National Standards Institute is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international...
). The certification is available to all electronics recyclers. To achieve e-Stewards certification companies are subject to yearly audits to ensure they comply with the standard and have a registered ISO 14001 environmental management system in place, as well as operating a complete ban on the export of toxic e-waste from developed to developing countries and the use of landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
s, incinerators or prison labour
Penal labour
Penal labour is a form of unfree labour in which prisoners perform work, typically manual labour. The work may be light or hard, depending on the context. Forms of sentence which involve penal labour include penal servitude and imprisonment with hard labour...
.
In June, 2011 Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
(the home of "Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
") became the first area in the United States to approve legislation requiring all electronic waste to be processed by e-Stewards certified recyclers.
e-Stewards Standard
The e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment was developed by the Basel Action NetworkBasel Action Network
The Basel Action Network is an non-governmental charitable organization working to combat the export of toxic waste, toxic technology and toxic products from industrialized societies to developing countries. BAN operates globally but is based in Seattle, Washington, United States, with a partner...
. It is an industry-specific environmental management system standard that is the basis a and electronics recycling company to become a Certified e-Stewards recycler.
The e-Stewards Standard is written for international use, and is consistent with international waste trade rules, social accountability standards, and environmental management system norms. Embedded within the e-Stewards Standard is ISO 14001, which is the global standard for environmental management systems. Using the ISO 14001 standard as a framework, the e-Stewards Standard adds additional industry-specific performance requirements, which results in a systemic, documented and top management commitment to best management practices for electronics recycling and reuse.
e-Stewards Recyclers
Electronics recyclers that have demonstrated to independent auditors that they follow strict practices for responsible electronics recycling are e-Stewards Recyclers. They must demonstrate comprehensive environmental, health and safety practices as well as robust measures to secure data that is often found on electronic devices. It is one of two recycler certification programs now required "for the recycling of electronics generated by U.S. government agencies."e-Stewards Enterprise
A program of the Basel Action NetworkBasel Action Network
The Basel Action Network is an non-governmental charitable organization working to combat the export of toxic waste, toxic technology and toxic products from industrialized societies to developing countries. BAN operates globally but is based in Seattle, Washington, United States, with a partner...
(BAN), businesses, governments and other organizations wishing to demonstrate responsible electronics recycling practices to stakeholders can become e-Stewards Enterprises. In order to do so, they must always make best efforts to use e-Stewards recyclers. They must report annually to BAN on their recycling vendor practices and sign a licensing agreement to use the e-Stewards Enterprise logo and designation. In October, 2010 Santa Clara County, California, became the first county in the United States to achieve e-Stewards Enterprise status.
Europe
In October, 2010 Redemtech UK, based in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was the first company outside of the United States to achieve e-Stewards certification. To receive certification, European companies must demonstrate compliance with the European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive is the European Community directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment which, together with the RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC, became European Law in February 2003, setting collection, recycling and recovery targets for all...
and demonstrate "a level of accountability and audit control that is unprecedented in the industry".
Certification denial
Update: "The blowout between the Basel Action Network (BAN) and Intercon Solutions Inc. over documentation involving alleged hazardous electronic waste shipments to China has narrowed down to one container.Days after obtaining shipping documents that Chicago Heights, Ill.-based Intercon Solutions says reveals two other companies shipped the two containers in question (AMM, Aug. 1), the company cited new evidence Thursday that one container wasn’t carrying hazardous waste. Importantly, this isn’t the container that BAN alleges was opened in Hong Kong by authorities and found to have hazardous waste. However, BAN’s previous statements to the media have come into question due to its ambiguity." http://www.amm.com/Article/2879866/Intercon-BAN-fight-comes-to-one-container.html
Electronics recycler Intercon Solutions, based in Chicago Heights, Illinois
Chicago Heights, Illinois
Chicago Heights is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 31,373 at the 2005 census. Chicago Heights is nicknamed 'Crossroads of the Nation'.-History:...
became the first company denied the e-Stewards certification based on "compelling evidence" that the company had exported hazardous e-waste to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Although the company claimed that it did not export any used electronics entrusted to it for recycling, "on two separate occasions BAN investigators photographed and tracked containers of electronic waste leaving property leased by Intercon Solutions in Chicago Heights on its way to China."
See also
- Basel ConventionBasel ConventionThe Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, usually known simply as the Basel Convention, is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of...
- Basel Action NetworkBasel Action NetworkThe Basel Action Network is an non-governmental charitable organization working to combat the export of toxic waste, toxic technology and toxic products from industrialized societies to developing countries. BAN operates globally but is based in Seattle, Washington, United States, with a partner...
- Electronic wasteElectronic wasteElectronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. There is a lack of consensus as to whether the term should apply to resale, reuse, and refurbishing industries, or only to product that cannot be used for its...
- Electronic waste by countryElectronic waste by countryElectronic waste is becoming an increasing part of the waste stream and efforts are being made to recycle and reduce this waste.-Basel Convention:...
- ISO 14001
- E-Cycling
- Digger goldDigger goldDigger gold is the common slang term for gold recovered from electronics components such as board fingers, CPUs, and connector pins. For the gold fingers on boards or circuits, often a stripping solution is used to remove the gold from the board material, nitric acid also works well in this regard...
- Hazardous wasteHazardous wasteA hazardous waste is waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment. According to the U.S. environmental laws hazardous wastes fall into two major categories: characteristic wastes and listed wastes.Characteristic hazardous wastes are materials that are known...
External links
- e-Stewards (official website and locator)
- Basel Action Network