R2v3 Certification Requirements: A Complete Guide for Electronics Recyclers

The 10 Core Requirements

Every R2v3-certified facility, regardless of its specific processes, must satisfy all 10 core requirements:

1. Scope — all processes and materials handled, stated accurately on the certificate
2. Hierarchy of Responsible Management Strategies — a written policy putting reuse first, then materials recovery, with disposal tightly limited
3. EH&S Management System — an Environmental, Health and Safety Management System certified by an accredited body to an approved standard, usually ISO 14001 with ISO 45001, or RIOS
4. Legal and Other Requirements — a legal compliance plan covering environmental, safety, data security, import, and export law
5. Tracking Throughput — documented tracking of electronics, components, and materials from receipt through shipment
6. Sorting, Categorization, and Processing — a documented process to evaluate and categorize everything, using the R2 Equipment Categorization
7. Data Security — a Data Sanitization Plan, a security program, and annual independent audits
8. Focus Materials — a management plan for PCBs, mercury, CRT glass, batteries, and circuit boards, on-site and downstream
9. Facility Requirements — storage, insurance appropriate to your risks, a closure plan, and a financial instrument to fund closure
10. Transport — packing, security in transit, and accurate shipping documents, using transporters that meet the legal requirements

The Process-Specific Appendices

On top of the core requirements, R2v3 applies additional Appendices matched to what your facility actually does:

• Appendix A — Downstream Recycling Chain: facilities transferring R2 Controlled Streams to downstream vendors
• Appendix B — Data Sanitization: any facility performing data destruction or sanitization on data-bearing devices
• Appendix C — Test and Repair: facilities that test, repair, and resell equipment
• Appendix D — Specialty Electronics Reuse: medical devices and other specialty equipment reuse
• Appendix E — Materials Recovery: facilities that dismantle, shred, or otherwise process equipment for recycling
• Appendix F — Brokering: companies that broker electronics for reuse or recycling without physical processing
• Appendix G — Photovoltaic Modules: facilities handling photovoltaic modules

Determining scope correctly at the start of your certification project avoids the most common cause of audit delays: being assessed against an Appendix that doesn't match your actual operations, or missing one that does. A gap assessment against your specific process flow — not a generic checklist — is the right starting point.