B.R. electronics recycler expects boost with international accreditation

The Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council, a nonprofit electronic scrap recycler and refurbisher, has become the first in Louisiana to complete an intensive international certification program that its directors say should boost business considerably. That's because federal rules enacted in recent years require government agencies to recycle their electronics at a facility with the R2 Responsible Recycling Practices Standard certification, which CACRC received late last month after nine months of working toward accreditation. "Other small nonprofits like us say that within the first month it increased their business by 50%, so we're really hoping we'll see the same thing and get a lot more material in," says Nancy Jo Craig, CACRC executive director. "Now those agencies don't have to send their stuff out of state; and for Baton Rouge businesses, too, if they want to do the right thing with their old electronics and make sure their data is wiped to the highest standards, they can stay in state. So yes, it's good for us, but it's also good for Louisiana and our industry." The independent, third-party certification is the only one recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency. It ensures electronics recyclers are maintaining best practices when it comes to worker safety, disposing of potentially toxic materials and data protection. "This is really going to take our organization to the next level," Craig says. You can learn more about CACRC at its website here. —Steve Sanoski

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