Implementation Study of the Electronics Recycling Standards: R2 and e-Stewards

In the United States, electronics recycling facilities can be certified to standards through two certification programs: the Responsible Recycling (“R2”) Standard for Electronics Recyclers and the e-Stewards® Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment© (“e-Stewards®”). Under the 2011 National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship (NSES), which tasks the federal government to lead by example in encouraging the greener design and responsible management of electronics, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) committed to study – in collaboration with the General Services Administration and the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) – the implementation of these certification programs. 

The study found that overall, the e-Stewards® and R2 certification programs are generally being implemented transparently, consistently, and are achieving the desired result. The study also found that there are opportunities for improvement within many of the topic areas assessed in the study, and the EPA provides suggestions for improving implementation of the Standards.