HOBI Weekly Blog Recap (5/22-26/23)
As 2021comes to an end, we reflect on some of the changes that have taken place within the ITAD industry, some larger than others. Below is a year-in-review of our top stories covering industry news including the R2v3 compliance update, the rise of the Right to Repair movement, and the Invest in America Act passed by the House in early November.
R2v3 Compliance Update, Is the Bar Too High? Part 1
In July 2020, Sustainable Electronics Recycling (SERI) released R2v3, the first major revision of the R2 practices since 2013. As the highest quality standard certification in the sustainability space, R2v3 compliance is an integral part of ensuring customers of desired results when practicing data destruction. Spanning 10 different areas, the R2v3 requirements include tighter safety measures when it comes to data security, and a more detailed description of services such as a scope statement, process requirements, a list of other locations, etc. These new changes have led some to wonder if the bar has been set too high. This series will focus on breaking down the new compliance updates and how they affect the ITAD and recycling industries. The first few major changes include Scope and EH&S Management System updates.
Customers’ Right to Repair Technology
As technology prices increase, so does the cost of repair. The more advanced our technology becomes the more expensive it is to fix when damaged, and certain factors make the repair process even more difficult. For example, you purchase a brand new laptop, tablet or phone, and spend just over a thousand dollars. A few years later the battery starts running out faster and faster, and soon you can’t even use it without a power cord. Perhaps you spilled something and now there’s water damage. The point is you need the device fixed, so you take it back to the manufacturer only to spend another thousand dollars (or close to it) just for a repair. This has become a problem in all areas of technology, but a growing movement is pushing back against companies that prevent customers from going anywhere other than the manufacturer for repairs.
August the Senate passed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, the INVEST in America Act, focusing on construction improvements, communications systems, and environmentally sustainable energy. The bill was passed by the House on Nov. 5, and officially signed into law by the president. In a 228-206 vote, many are pleased that the importance of environmental sustainability has finally made progress.
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