MRM seeks continuous improvement in environmental outcomes, reduction of environmental impacts, and protection of health, safety, and data protection. MRM’s contracts with our processors require they meet all Federal, State, and local requirements. MRM’s program emphasizes the following program outcomes.
MRM works with a small group of environmentally responsible recyclers to ensure that all material recycled in the MRM program is managed in an environmentally responsible manner. The Oregon E-Cycles law requires MRM, as the electronics PRO, to abide by environmentally sound management practices and the Oregon DEQ reviews MRM’s processes annually.
All MRM recyclers hold third-party certifications from e-Stewards, R2, or both. MRM requires that all recyclers contracted with MRM maintain adequate record keeping, track and report the markets for recycled material and ultimate disposition of the key recycled materials, agree to MRM’s regular performance audits and inspections, adhere to provisions for safe reuse or refurbishment, and meet significant insurance requirements. The process to become a recycler for MRM is extensive; every recycler under contract with MRM has undergone MRM’s vetting process to ensure they have environmentally responsible and safe operations before beginning any work with MRM. Processors contracted with MRM must undergo regular third-party audits and MRM’s own annual audits. MRM is proud to have never been subject to any enforcement actions against our organization.
MRM strives to reduce adverse environmental impacts throughout the lifecycle of CED materials. This includes such activities as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing transportation distances; conserving natural resources and energy; and implementing pollution prevention strategies at processing locations and identifying projects to increase circular economy benefits.
MRM’s contracts with processors and our instructions to collection sites participating in MRM’s PRO are designed to protect worker health and safety and safeguard consumer data. MRM contracts with outside auditors to ensure processors are complying with these environmental performance and worker health and safety requirements, and MRM also performs annual desktop audits to ensure processors are upholding these requirements. MRM reviews our audit criteria annually and adjusts audit check points to reinforce continuous improvement. For example, as data security and cybercrime issues have emerged in recent years, MRM has added check in points for our audits to ensure recyclers are maturing and adopting best practices in these areas. For collectors, MRM provides expected performance requirements and oversees compliance through site visits and quarterly reporting.
MRM’s PRO supports reuse when feasible, safe, and practical and will support Oregon. MRM’s collection network includes the leading reuse organizations in Oregon, and we support their activities. Most items collected from Oregon E-Cycles collection will be recycled after first examining for reuse. All materials are processed for recycling with environmentally sound recovery methods, and MRM monitors and tracks data regarding our processors’ downstream outlets. Disposal is considered as a last resort and will be conducted in compliance with all applicable laws and standards, including those prohibiting landfilling or incineration of certain electronics and hazardous materials.
