SERI / R2 Statement on Enhanced Quality Assurance Initiatives

About SERISubpages
We're Sustainable Electronics Recycling International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing safe and sustainable reuse and recycling of used electronics through consensus-driven standards.
R2 StandardSubpages
The R2 Standard is the leading certification for electronics repair and reuse. As the housing body for R2, SERI maintains the R2 Standard, related documentation, guidance, and facilitates its ongoing development.
ProgramsSubpages
SERI works with partners throughout the lifecycle of electronic products to ensure that they are managed responsibly. SERI's programs focus on education, outreach, safety, and international development.
- R2 Leaders
Education & TrainingSubpages
SERI offers a variety of educational and training opportunities for recyclers, as well as opportunities for auditors and consultants. These trainings focus on implementing the R2 Standard, realizing a return on the investment in certification, discussing relevant issues or challenges related to recycling practices, and other topics.

May 11, 2016, Boulder, CO The PBS News Hour segment "Tracking Down America's Electronic Waste" raises serious questions about the mismanagement of a portion of the electronics discarded in the United States. It revealed that the Basel Action Network placed about 200 transponders in pieces of electronic equipment and dropped them off at recycling collection sites. They tracked the transponders, finding that around one-third were exported, mostly to Hong Kong where some of the tracked equipment was dismantled under unsafe working conditions. Though not mentioned in the News Hour segment, some R2 and e-Stewards certified recyclers reportedly have been implicated.

SERI is reviewing the data and analysis behind BAN's conclusions. In the meantime, we are making the following statement.

About SERISubpages
We're Sustainable Electronics Recycling International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing safe and sustainable reuse and recycling of used electronics through consensus-driven standards.
R2 StandardSubpages
The R2 Standard is the leading certification for electronics repair and reuse. As the housing body for R2, SERI maintains the R2 Standard, related documentation, guidance, and facilitates its ongoing development.
ProgramsSubpages
SERI works with partners throughout the lifecycle of electronic products to ensure that they are managed responsibly. SERI's programs focus on education, outreach, safety, and international development.
- R2 Leaders
Education & TrainingSubpages
SERI offers a variety of educational and training opportunities for recyclers, as well as opportunities for auditors and consultants. These trainings focus on implementing the R2 Standard, realizing a return on the investment in certification, discussing relevant issues or challenges related to recycling practices, and other topics.