Recycling is the first "green" rung of a more sustainable community.  By reusing our appliances, materials and even heat, we can reduce the use of virgin materials -- and thus, save our dwindling raw natural resources such as iron ore, wood, silver and even water.

Recycling careers offer a wide variety of options from recycling scrap paper and scrap metal to recycling the parts of computers and cell phones.  To prevent environmental problems and the health problems that are caused by toxins in the environment, it is important that standards be set and implemented.  Training and certification programs can help improve and maintain those standards.

One of the most difficult aspects of the scrap recycling industry is keeping in compliance with regulations. Compliance can often seem like an endless maze, winding, confusing, and without resolution. But ISRI staff works tirelessly to keep on top of new and existing regulations and works to help boost your compliance programs.

Quality. Environment. Health & Safety. These three areas--represented by the acronym "QEH&S"--are critically important to every scrap recycler.

Operations that don't excel in QEH&S are more likely to experience inefficiencies, problems, violations, and accidents, potentially hurting the bottom line. In contrast, companies that strive for excellence in QEH&S help to ensure profitability and future viability.

Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) integrates industry-specific standards into a comprehensive environment, quality and health and safety environmental management system, a system that will be third-party verified by an accredited firm.

Certifying Bodies and Auditors

ANAB's RIOS Accreditation Program is now accepting applications from certifying bodies. Program applications and instructions and the RIOS Accreditation Rule can be found at www.anab.org.

The RIOS Accreditation Rule identifies the requirements and required documents for certifying bodies seeking ANAB accreditation to RIOS.

RIOS Auditors must complete an ISC-approved RIOS Auditor training course. 

RIOS auditor training courses include:

• Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) Auditor Training
  
• Responsible Recycling (R2) Accreditation Program
  
• Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices

RIOS Auditor Training: As part of the accreditation process, RIOS Certifying Bodies must demonstrate that their auditors meet the requirements for RIOS Auditors, including completion of an ISC-approved RIOS Auditor training course to ensure that RIOS Auditors understand the scrap recycling industry and RIOS. This ISC-approved RIOS Auditor training course meets the requirements for auditors performing RIOS conformance assessments on behalf of RIOS certifying bodies. This course will provide an overview of the scrap processing and recycling industry and a detailed presentation of the elements of RIOS, the auditing requirements of RIOS, and the auditing requirements of the ISRI Services Corp. (ISC).

R2 Auditor Training: This course will provide a detailed overview of the Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices for Use in Accredited Certification Programs for Electronics Recyclers so that auditors will understand the requirements of R2 and be able to recognize objective evidence needed to show conformance to R2.  The course will also demonstrate how R2 fits within an environmental, health and safety management system, including RIOS.

Training topics include:

• Reuse, Recover...Hierarchy of Responsible Management Strategies
• Legal Requirements
• On-site Environment, Health and Safety
• R2 Focus Materials
• Reusable Equipment and Components
• Tracking Throughput
• Data Destruction
• Storage
• Facility Security
• Insurance, Closure Plan, and Financial Responsibility
• Transport
• Recordkeeping
• Environmental, Health and Safety Management System
• Auditing Requirements of ANAB

International Association of Electronics Recyclers
IAER's Certified Electronics Recycler® Program

Certified Electronics Recycler® 

The IAER Certification Standard is a comprehensive set of requirements that reflect what preferred customers would expect of qualified suppliers. 

·  To support and promote high standards of environmental quality and regulatory compliance as well as high quality business practices in the electronics recycling industry.

· To serve the needs of customers and stakeholders to identify electronics recyclers that meet their requirements for reputable service providers.

· To provide an objective third party auditing process against a recognized industry standard.

For more information: 
www.iaer.org