ER2 Electronic Responsible Recyclers, an e-waste recycling operation headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, is investing $1.8 million to open a 69,000 square-foot electronics (e-waste) recycling facility in downtown Memphis, bringing 65 tech jobs to the Mid-South area.
A Memphis location brings a competitive advantage. “ER2 was looking to expand Eastward and Memphis was an ideal location to distribute out of due to the city being centrally located,” said ER2 General Manager Tyler Whitney. “It brings lower inbound and outbound shipping costs as well being able to service the Nashville, Birmingham, Little Rock and St. Louis markets which has several of our target customers.”
The company’s goal is to have ‘zero-landfill impact and zero-export of e-waste to underdeveloped countries.’ In keeping with that environmentally responsible goal, the Memphis location is in a refurbished building using recycled equipment. ER2 extends its environmental responsibility to the small details by using LED lighting throughout, a change that will cut electricity use by 50%.
Launched in 2012, ER2 recycles and refurbishes discarded electronics, also known as e-waste. According to a report compiled by the United Nations and other leading research bodies, by 2017, the world will be producing 33 percent more e-waste than the 54 million tons it produced in 2012. That’s an estimated 72 million tons of electronic components made of lead, cadmium, mercury and other hazardous wastes added to the planet’s landfills.
The Memphis ER2 location will receive e-waste shipments from around the country. Technicians first classify the equipment as either refurbishable or recyclable. The unsalvageable equipment is broken down and 100% of the material is recycled; the salvageable equipment is refurbished and sold. ER2 plans a Midtown Memphis storefront for selling its refurbished equipment to Mid-South companies, schools, and individual customers. Lower price points on refurbished equipment could impact closing the digital divide.
ER2’s recycle and refurbish services are available to both individuals and companies. Even hard drives that contained secure medical or personal information can be received. ER2 provides secure data destruction services in their secure facility or on-site at a customer’s location. Their work is certified and insured and includes NSA-approved degaussing and hard drive destruction services.