posted on June 01, 2011 17:25
Janesville, WI (June 1, 2011) – Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC (URT) received three significant certifications this month at its Janesville, WI headquarters and processing facility: ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, and certification to the e-Stewards® Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment. The certifications represent years of concerted effort to recycle ethically and operate responsibly. URT is the eleventh recycling company in the nation to achieve an e-Stewards® certification and is currently in process to have all of its facilities certified.
“We are so pleased that both the ISO and e-Stewards auditors validated our continuing efforts to recycle responsibly and efficiently, consistently providing a high-quality customer experience. For our valued customers like Samsung, a longtime environmental champion and e-Stewards Enterprise, this further confirms our commitment to industry-leading service,” said URT President Jim Cornwell. “We have an extremely talented team of professionals here. These honors are a credit to their hard work.”
The ISO 14001:2004 standard recognizes the consistent application and success of a company’s environmental health and safety management system. The ISO 9001:2008 standard takes this a step further, certifying the overall company quality management system. It demonstrates the company’s commitment and ability to deliver superior quality and customer satisfaction. Both standards were developed by the International Organizations for Standardization. Through the ISO process, all URT-Janesville Campus operations—from documentation and record-keeping to continual improvement processes—were vetted.
The e-Stewards Certification program, created by the Basel Action Network (BAN-www.e-stewards.org), formally recognizes electronics recyclers that adhere to the highest environmentally and socially responsible practices when recovering materials from electronic scrap. It is the only electronics recycling standard that bans all exports of hazardous electronic waste to developing countries, and prohibits the use of prison labor and dumping in local landfills. The accredited third-party audited certification program is supported by the U.S. EPA and is endorsed by Greenpeace USA, the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Electronics TakeBack Coalition and 68 other environmental organizations. It has drawn the public support of major corporate “e-Stewards Enterprises” including Samsung, Alcoa, Bank of America, Capital One Financial Corp. and Wells Fargo.
URT was also recognized by BAN for its ongoing efforts to safely process and clean leaded CRT glass, a hazard that requires extra care and has historically been difficult to cleanly recycle. “We wholeheartedly welcome Universal Recycling Technologies into the e-Stewards initiative, and are delighted to add them to our growing list of industry-leading recyclers that operate with diligence and integrity. URT has demonstrated a commitment to the highest levels of responsible recycling. As one of the few recyclers nationwide who can safely process leaded TV and monitor glass, the company not only benefits its direct customers but also is a great resource to other recyclers,” said BAN Executive Director Jim Puckett.
URT’s glass-to-glass recycling safely removes the coatings allowing it to be recycled into new CRT glass and reused. This sustainable method prevents the lead from leeching into the environment and causing harm. “We are proud to be a part of the ongoing global effort to responsibly dispose of and reuse our resources,” said Cornwell.
Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC (URT) is a national electronic and universal waste management recycling organization, headquartered in Janesville, WI. Since 2007, the company has been privately owned by Hendricks Holding Company, Inc. A recognized industry leader, URT provides end-of-life recycling (de-manufacturing), universal waste recycling, asset recovery services (ARS), and commodities and logistics management services to major market segments including original equipment manufacturers (OEM), retailers, municipalities, and Fortune 500 organizations. URT is a direct processor for Samsung and is an approved processor for the Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company (MRM), a consortium of over 30 leading OEMs founded by Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba. To learn more about URT, please visitwww.universalrecyclers.com.