MSFT Joins Recycling Effort

Microsoft is championing the e-waste recycling movement. The Redmond, Wash.-based tech titan, along with Sony America, Xerox and Goodwill Industries, has been named a founding member of R2 Leaders, an electronics recycling group that aims to keep used gadgets and PCs out of landfills. 

"This reflects Microsoft's commitment to support the development of standards for better reuse and recycling of electronic devices around the world," said Josh Henretig, group manager of Environmental Sustainability at Microsoft. "We are excited to demonstrate our commitment to the responsible recycling of electronics by becoming a founding member of the R2 Leaders program," he said in a statement. The R2 Standard calls for recyclers to take into account stringent environmental, health and security requirements for the safe handling of electronics. The standard "ensures that more toxic material streams are managed safely and responsibly by downstream vendors—all the way to final disposition," said Henretig. 

Currently, 540 facilities across 17 countries carry R2 Standard certification.

   

The standard also helps halt the spread of toxic materials that are often present in today's electronics. Henretig added that R2 "prohibits e-recyclers and their downstream vendors from exporting these more toxic materials to countries that have enacted laws making their import illegal."