According to the company, the R2 Program establishes a set of accepted practices that helps protect the environment and workers’ health and safety during the handling of e-waste, provides the ability for third parties to monitor activity and offers transparency in the electronics recycling sector.

The US Environmental Protection Agency facilitated the development of the R2 Program which included representatives from the federal and state governments, electronic manufacturers, electronic refurbishing and recycling professionals and trade associations. The certification of the program is accredited by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB).

Older electronics may contain potentially harmful materials such as lead, mercury and cadmium, but may also contain valuable materials that can be reclaimed in new devices. To ensure proper handling of this e-waste, the R2 program requires participating companies to implement an environmental, health, and safety management system that tracks materials and minimizes emissions and worker exposure during electronics recycling operations.

Certified recyclers must also obtain documentation from foreign governments prior to shipping certain materials abroad. Companies must exercise due diligence to ensure safe and accountable handling of e-waste throughout the recycling chain, both domestic and international.

Waste Management’s Minneapolis eCycling facility is certified to the R2 Program standards and the company is in the process of certifying all of its electronics recycling facilities.

To encourage consumers to dispose of electronic devices in an environmentally sound manner, in 2007 WM Recycle America established a nation-wide network of drop-off locations and has joined forces with Sony Electronics and LG Electronics USA on comprehensive programs for consumers to recycle their old Sony, LG, Zenith and GoldStar branded devices at no cost.

Joining the R2 Program supports Waste Management’s ongoing sustainability program, particularly to meet its target of recycling 20 million tons of material by 2020.