RDC, the Braintree-based computer reuse and recycling specialists, strengthen export and re-use credibility with certification to: PAS 141:2011, the new British standard for re-use of used and waste electrical and electronic equipment (UEEE & WEEE).

PAS 141 is a British and world first. Apart from assuring prospective users that used electrical and electronic equipment has been tested for safety and functionality, the standard helps the Environment Agency in their campaign to end the illegal export of waste electronics to developing countries.   

“Certification to PAS 141 is evidence of RDC’s commitment to continuing to operate to best practice standards” says RDC MD, Gerry Hackett. “RDC’s PAS 141 certified process will stand out from others especially when exporting tested for re-use IT.  This new certification reassures RDC’s service and product sales customers that equipment has been tested as being safe and fit for re-use, differentiating them from  products for sale from non-certified organisations.”
Gerry Hackett says “PAS 141 certification helps our growing legitimate export business for which RDC received the Queens Award for Enterprise for International Trade in 2012. It will also help Environment Agency regulators to focus their investigations on illegal exporters of untested WEEE, reducing the environmental pollution and child labour exploitation that sadly goes on.” 

Gordon Rainbird, RDC’s Sustainability Manager, says “PAS 141 certification complements RDC’s long standing certification to the international standards for quality, environment, safety and security management.”

Gordon says “RDC’s processes are now approved to PAS 141 to reassure stakeholders worldwide that RDC test equipment for safety, functionality and securely eradicating confidential data. Failed or obsolete items are recycled by RDC in an environmentally responsible way – with nothing disposed of to landfill.”

Really Green Credentials certified RDC as their first ever certification whilst being observed for their own accreditation assessment by UKAS. Gordon Rainbird said “Really Green Credentials were well-prepared and provided us with guidelines for the certification process, the interpretation of the PAS 141 specification and what they expected from us during the certification process itself.”

RDC’s Gary Griffiths led the development of PAS 141 for the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and currently chairs the PAS 141 Technical Advisory Committee and so did not play an active part in RDC’s certification. Gary says “Re-use is increasing in importance. The EU Waste Hierarchy emphasises re-use and the EU WEEE Directive Recast (review) calls for development of a standard to differentiate between legal, tested re-use products and illegal exports of WEEE. PAS 141 is the first to do this and hence there is also growing worldwide interest in PAS 141.”