Training Materials on Environmentally Sound Management
To support North American small and medium-size businesses that recycle and refurbish used and end-of-life electronics in the creation and maintenance of green jobs, in 2011-2012 the CEC completed a training course on environmentally sound management (ESM) practices.
ESM can be defined as taking all practicable steps to ensure that used and/or end-of-life products and wastes are managed in a manner that will protect human health and the environment.
There are recognized benefits that come from adopting and implementing ESM practices. They include:
- ESM can increase business opportunities for companies— Clients now frequently demand that processors of electronic products use ESM practices. Thus ESM can be a marketing advantage.
- ESM at refurbishing or recycling businesses can potentially increase a company’s profits because more materials are recovered. ESM can increase the recovery of materials that are of high economic value—for example, precious metals such as gold, nickel, copper or palladium, and sometimes rare earth elements. Implementing ESM improves operational efficiency by implementing new systems and procedures that focus on reducing waste, reusing, and recycling.
- ESM will protect the health of co-workers, families, communities, and the environment. There can be critical impacts to worker health, the community, and to the environment that come from facilities processing used and end-of-life electronic products. ESM can result in improved worker health and safety, as well as protect the local community and the environment. ESM also requires compliance with health and safety regulations, and environmental protection regulations.
To access the CEC ESM training materials, please click here: