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Responsible Recycling Practices
Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices for Use in Accredited Certification Programs
The Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices for Use in Accredited Certification Programs (PDF) (15 pp, 51K, about PDF) 
is a set of guidelines for accredited certification programs to assess electronics recyclers’ environmental, worker health and safety, and security practices. Since January 2006, EPA has facilitated a multi-stakeholder group to develop this document.
The voluntary R2 practices include general principles and specific practices for recyclers disassembling or reclaiming used electronics equipment including those electronics that are exported for refurbishment and recycling. The practices are set forth below.
- Develop and use a management system that covers environmental, worker safety and public health practices on-site and downstream management of end-of-life (EOL) equipment and materials;
- Establish a policy that promotes reuse and materials recovery for EOL equipment and materials;
- Comply with environmental, health, and safety legal requirements, both domestically and internationally, that are applicable to the recyclers' operations;
- Use practices to reduce exposures and emissions during recycling operations;
- Export (or arrange for the export of) focus materials only to foreign countries that accept them.
- Focus materials are: cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and CRT glass; circuit boards (unless they have had batteries and mercury-containing items removed and are lead free); batteries; and items containing mercury and/or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), both in EOL equipment and when separated as components;
- Send EOL equipment and all material derived from this equipment, that contain focus materials only to facilities that are properly licensed to receive these materials, and use technology designed to safely and effectively manage these materials - whether in the U.S. or another country;
- Ensure that an electronics recycler does not use energy recovery, incineration, or land disposal as a management strategy for focus materials or equipment and components containing focus materials. However, if circumstances beyond the control of the R2 recycler disrupt its normal management of a focus material, it may consider these technologies to the extent allowed under applicable law;
- Exercise due diligence in ensuring that downstream recyclers and processors manage recycled materials appropriately, throughout the downstream recycling chain;
- Ensure that materials going for reuse are refurbished and tested for functionality, and residual focus materials are managed responsibly;
- Ensure that personal data on EOL electronics going to reuse or recycling are cleared or destroyed; and
- Track throughput and keep records; store and transport material securely and safely; and possess insurance, closure plans, and financial mechanisms to cover the potential risks of the facility.
The R2 practices are not legal requirements and do not replace electronics recyclers’ legal obligations. Electronics recyclers that adhere to this set of R2 practices are doing so on a voluntary basis. If a requirement of this document conflicts with an applicable legal requirement, the recycler must adhere to the legal requirement.
Next Steps
The R2 working group will now identify certification programs to verify electronics recyclers who adhere to the R2 practices. Ultimately, once electronics recyclers are R2-certified, they will be able to highlight their environmentally sound practices to customers. In addition, customers, including government agencies, states, manufactures, and the public, will be able to easily identify recyclers that use sound practices.
E-waste Exporters
The export-related practices extend the recycler’s responsibility for focus materials by having them get assurances from downstream vendors both domestically and internationally. These assurances will show that the materials are being handled properly and legally by downstream vendors throughout the recycling chain. The practices extend to all recycling processes, including refurbishment, repair, and recycling of electronic material.
To comply with these practices, exporters that send electronics materials that contain, or are, focus materials for refurbishment and/or recycling will need documents that show the export is legal under the laws of the receiving country.
Upon request, EPA has agreed to help exporters of e-waste obtain documentation from non-OECD foreign governments to as to the legality of import of R2 focus materials that are contained in used electronic equipment or separated as components and sent from the US. Recyclers who would like to request EPA’s assistance in getting documentation on the legality of exports from foreign countries can contact Frank McAlister (mcalister.frank@epa.gov) through e-mail or letter: Frank McAlister, USEPA (5304P), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20460.
When sending in a request to EPA, the following information should be provided:
- Name of the countries of import and transit.
- If transit, name of port(s) of transit.
- Complete name, address and contact information for the importer and destination facility (if different).
- Identification of the specific types of used or scrap electronics to be sent, including description of the type of processing, if any, used prior to export from the US (e.g., used desktop computers, sorted CRT glass cullet that has been cleaned of all coatings, whole and shredded circuit boards).
- A description of the manner in which the used or scrap electronics will be handled in the importing country (e.g., refurbished, remanufactured, processed to facilitate recycling, smelted, used directly as a raw material, etc.).
