ISO 9001 Certification in an Industry with Its Own Set of Standards (Demo)

Waste recycling has its own standards: the Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) and Responsible Recycling Practices (R2/RIOS). Established by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), these standards have grown in importance as the world moves to mitigate the effects of climate change, among other concerns. However, DeAnne Toto of Recycling Today writes that RIOS and R2/RIOS aren’t enough for most recyclers. Despite being designed for the recycling industry, many recycling services scramble to be ISO-certified, namely ISO 9001 certification. Given that RIOS is a mishmash of standards streamlined for the recycling industry, ISO certification comes as a bonus. The reason is somewhat elusive. There’s no universal standard for this industry yet.

“While the subject of this month’s cover story, Arrow Electronics, Englewood, Colorado, has achieved R2/RIOS and e-Stewards certification for its IT asset disposition (ITAD) facilities, the company’s Tim Kolbus says there is yet to be a single “right” industry standard. […] While Kolbus says a single stringent standard eventually may emerge for the electronics reuse and recycling industry, in the meantime, Arrow has established its own global standard that it says goes above and beyond currently available standards.”

ISO 9001 is encompassing; it doesn’t relate to a specific industry because quality management, the standard’s core topic, applies to all. As far as ISO 9001 goes, a recycling service isn’t any different from other businesses and industries. It relies on a loyal following to increase revenue and teamwork to achieve short and long-term objectives. As a matter of fact, RIOS and R2/RIOS contain provisions that can be found in the broader ISO 9001, among other standards. Global and industry-specific standards are rarely a requirement. A business can choose not to be certified, but it will lose out on the benefits of certification, such as a stamp of approval that customers look for. Businesses know this better than anyone, which is why streamlining work processes and systems are part of quality management. Ask yourself this: “Are you willing to go the distance? Are you happy with the things as they are now?” As a business owner, you can never have insufficient room for improvement; recyclers exemplify that principle. Go the extra mile by being certified beyond industry-specific standards. Apply for ISO certification for 9001 standard by certification agencies like ISA Registrar. (Source: “Raising the standard,” Recycling Today, May 28, 2014)