21 September 2010 – Redemtech EU, of Cranleigh, Surrey, has become the first electronics recycler outside of the United States to be certified to the e-Stewards Standard. Three additional European facilities are in line to be certified in the coming months.

E-Stewards is a third-party-audited certification program developed by the Basel Action Network, based in Seattle. E-stewards is designed to ensure customers of electronics recyclers that their vendors do not landfill toxic electronic scrap or export the material to developing countries and operate in accordance with all applicable local and international laws.

Redemtech was among the first companies to receive the e-Stewards certification when BAN launched the program in the United States this past April. Redemtech currently operates four e-Stewards-certified facilities in the United States.

“Certified e-Stewards Recyclers like Redemtech EU have proven systems in place to ensure customers that they don’t have to rely on trust when it comes to choosing a recycler,” says Jim Puckett of BAN.

“Redemtech is proud to be the first e-Stewards recycler certified in Europe, which is consistent with our company’s tradition of leadership in setting the highest standards for data security and environmental stewardship,” says Robert Houghton, president of Redemtech.

He adds, “We moved quickly with the certification process to provide large enterprises with a global partner they can trust to handle their e-waste with complete transparency and accountability and support the e-Stewards Standard as the worldwide industry standard for truly responsible e-waste management.”

E-Stewards Certification is currently available in OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation), EU (European Union) and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries, according to BAN.

Further, companies and institutions that agree to make best efforts to use e-Stewards recyclers can be designated as e-Stewards Enterprises. Currently, Samsung, Capital One, Premier Farnell, Bank of America and Wells Fargo Banks are e-Stewards Enterprises.

“Most of our e-Stewards Enterprises operate internationally, so certifying our first e-Stewards Recycler outside the U.S. is an important milestone in helping them minimize the risk and costs of compliance while protecting the environment,” Puckett says.

The e-Stewards Standard has been endorsed by the Environmental Justice Foundation in the U.K. and the by the European Environmental Bureau, Greenpeace USA, the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council as well as more than 60 other environmental organizations.