lbarten posted on March 09, 2010 02:32
The first glass processor in U.S. to become e-Stewards ® approved, URT champions ethical recycling
JANESVILLE, WI (March 8, 2010) – This week, the Basel Action Network (BAN), an environmental watchdog organization, successfully prevented nine sea-going containers of hazardous electronic waste from a Massachusetts business calling itself a recycler from being exported and delivered to Indonesia in contravention of the international treaty on hazardous waste known as the Basel Convention and Indonesian law. The “recycler” in question—CRT Recycling, Inc.—is one of many e-waste recyclers with the acronym for cathode ray tube (CRT) in its name. The similarity has created confusion with other similarly named ethical recyclers who have no affiliation whatsoever with the company under scrutiny.
“We have been receiving a flood of questions and phone calls since the March 1 announcement. We want to clearly state that Universal Recycling Technologies, formerly named CRT Processing, LLC, is not affiliated in any way with the recycler in question,” says Jim Cornwell, President of Universal Recycling Technologies (URT). “In fact, a primary point of differentiation for our company is our commitment to ethical recycling and transparent business practices. For many years now, we have worked closely with organizations like the Basel Action Network (BAN) to promote responsible recycling practices throughout the industry.”
URT is the first glass processor in the U.S. to become e-Stewards approved under the e-Stewards® Pledge Program, and is now preparing to graduate to become one of the first e-Stewards® Certified Recyclers. Thee-Stewards® Certified Recyclers Program is the world’s only environmental group endorsed, third-party audited certification. It is designed to provide rigorous assurance that member recyclers are using the most responsible practices. Manufacturers will also participate in the program as e-Stewards® Enterprises, vowing to use only certified recyclers for their own recycling needs.
According to BAN, about 80 percent of the e-waste consumers deliver to recyclers is not recycled by those receiving the material at all but is simply shipped to countries in Asia and Africa to some of the world’s most impoverished communities where the waste is smashed, burned, melted or chemically treated in extremely dangerous backyard operations. BAN warns businesses and consumers to hand over their old electronic equipment only to designated e-Stewards® Recyclers that have been carefully screened and audited to ensure they do not export, use prison labor or dump toxics in municipal landfills and incinerators.
“Consumers can do their part to prevent techno-trash dumping. We must urge Congress to pass a prohibition on waste exportation at once, and we must vow to deliver old computers and TVs only to designated e-Stewards® Recyclers like Universal Recycling Technologies (formerly CRT Processing, LLC),” says Jim Puckett, Executive Director of the Basel Action Network.
In addition to its glass-to-glass (CRT) processing, URT offers a wide range of recycling services at eight locations across the nation, providing comprehensive recycling solutions for all types of universal waste and e-waste, asset management, convenient pre-paid pack-and-ship recycling box programs and a line of proprietary recycling equipment.
For more information on the e-Stewards initiative or to find an ethical recycler, visit www.e-Stewards.org.For more information about Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC (URT), visit www.UniversalRecyclers.com or email Jim Cornwell at JCornwell@UniversalRecyclers.com.
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2535 Beloit Avenue • Janesville, WI 53546 • 877-278-0799 • www.UniversalRecyclers.com
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