Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, announced today that it has successfully achieved Responsible Recycling Practices for Electronics Recyclers (R2) certification and Basel Action Network’s (BAN’s) e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment for its Holliston, Massachusetts, facility.

Announcement of the certifications means that ERI is the only recycler of electronics in Massachusetts to be both R2 certified and certified to BAN’s e-Stewards program.

R2 Certification is a set of guidelines for accredited certification programs to assess electronics recyclers’ environmental, worker health and safety, and security practices. Since January 2006, the 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 e-Stewards Standard, created by BAN with the advice of industry leaders and health and environmental specialists. It requires recyclers to eliminate exports of hazardous e-wastes to developing countries; to halt the dumping of such wastes in municipal landfills or incinerators, and to cease the use of captive prison populations to manage toxic e-wastes. It also calls for strict protection of customers’ private data and occupational health safeguards to ensure that workers in recycling plants are not exposed to toxic dusts and fumes.

“We are extremely proud to be the first electronic recycler in Massachusetts to receive both R2 and e-Steward certifications,” said John S. Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of ERI. “Not only does it show that ERI has met the strictest standards of environmental and operational excellence, it also shows that we are dedicated to sustainable, environmentally friendly operations – in Massachusetts and in all of our other locations as well. We strongly support R2 certification as well as BAN’s certified, third-party audited programs, and encourage the other companies in our industry to follow our lead in getting certified with both.”

Shegerian also noted that ERI continues to see steady growth and will soon be expanding nationally and internationally. The company currently has locations in California, Washington, Colorado, Indianapolis, Massachusetts, Texas and North Carolina.