You see an Earth Day recycling event, but ORAU sees its commitment to ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).
In layman’s terms, that means ORAU is focused on environmental stewardship, efficiency and safety. The “ISO” in ISO 14001 and 9001 stands for International Organization for Standardization. While ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 are international standards for environmental management and quality management, respectively, and the DOE-VPP recognizes excellence in safety, they are all programs designed to improve and manage various aspects of organizational performance. And our employees are 100% committed.
What does that have to do with ORAU’s Earth Day recycling event? It’s all intertwined. I’ll explain.
How the event started
Cars lined up to drop off items for ORAU’s 2025 Earth Day. This year, 144 ORAU employees participated!
For two days (April 22-23, 2025), ORAU employees brought techno recycle (old computers, LED light bulbs, etc.), personal documents to shred, expired or unused medications and household goods for donation to a collection site on ORAU’s South Campus.
“I come to this event every year because it’s a great place to recycle all your techno trash that’s hard to get rid of at home. I save it up in the garage and look forward to this day every year,” said Terri Ryan, who works at the Cytogenetic Biodosimetry Lab, which is part of the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education’s Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site that is managed by ORAU. She was among those who lined up on the first morning of the event.
“Through the years, I’ve recycled two printers and old laptops,” Ryan continued. “You don’t have to worry about where they’re going, and you always get a goody bag at the end!” she laughed.
The event started in 2010 with the intention to mark Earth Day as an opportunity for ORAU employees to dispose of personal techno recycle, which is electronic waste such as discarded electric devices and equipment. Many products like phones and TVs contain hazardous materials including lead and mercury; if improperly disposed, these substances can leach into the soil and groundwater and pose risks to human and wildlife health.
ORAU Earth Day event, 2017
As it turns out, there are a lot of people who are eager to unload techno recycle responsibly, and ORAU’s first Earth Day recycling program was so popular it became an annual event.
What it is now
From its humble beginning of only collecting electronics, the event has grown to offer ORAU employees an occasion every year to do some spring cleaning and donate to worthy causes. Staff can bring small appliances (like toaster ovens and microwaves), toys, Christmas décor, linens, cookware, personal documents for shredding, and more!
Shredding personal documents is a big draw to ORAU’s Earth Day event. This year, employees brought 4,940 lbs. to shred!
“When we started looking at how we as a company can better manage diverted waste totals, we started thinking about how we could expand our Earth Day event,” Jennifer Clary of ORAU’s Environment, Safety and Health (ES&H) department explained. Clary has helped plan and organize this event for the past four years.
Jennifer Clary (right) talks with a recycling participant
In cooperation with ISO 14001 and DOE-VPP standards (as well as simply being good stewards of our resources), ORAU maintains that at least 70% of company waste is diverted from landfills to other means of disposal (i.e., recycling, composting or reuse). Clary explained that with a hybrid work culture, ES&H has gotten creative with the Earth Day event to encourage more people to get involved. By hosting an event where people bring techno recyclables and donations, the impact is greater than simply encouraging individuals to do it on their own. ORAU is supporting employees’ opportunity for better disposal of techno recycle while exposing them to local needs for items that can be donated year-round.
“For the items that can be reused, we make a collective donation on behalf of ORAU,” Clary explained. “No individual gets any accolades, but it helps the community. Both The Ecumenical Storehouse and the Holiday Bureau are non-profits, so they take these items and help people who are truly in need.”
When it comes to the waste to be recycled, ORAU makes one techno trash shipment a year. Any eligible office equipment is held for this moment and combined with what employees bring during the Earth Day event. From the collection site in Oak Ridge, ORAU partners with a Management and Operations (M&O) contractor with a Responsible Recycling (R2) certification to ensure proper disposal of the techno waste. R2 certification is recognized globally and involves rigorous third-party audits to ensure compliance with strict standards. The official weight for the 2025 haul hasn’t come back yet, but in 2024, ORAU diverted 14,464 lbs. of techno waste!
ORAU diverted 14,464 lbs. of techno waste in 2024.
The drug takeback aspect of the event helps alleviate the problem of harmful substances going into wastewater. ASAP of Anderson County is on hand to collect unused and outdated medication. In 2024, ORAU’s Earth Day event collected more than ASAP collected the rest of the year! That’s a lot of medication that didn’t get flushed or end up in the ground!
ASAP of Anderson County collects unneeded medication. This year, employees brough 185 lbs. to dispose!
Because ORAU’s recycling event has been so successful, Clary and the ES&H team have helped other contractors and national labs start similar programs. We’re proud to lead.
Fulfilling ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and VPP
So, why does an Earth Day event mean so much to our company? It’s synonymous with our culture. We promise to be good stewards of our customers’ funds, but not only that, our employees want to contribute value.
“It’s easy to say, ‘we do good things,’ but to have someone come in and certify that we are in fact excellent stewards of our resources is validating,” Clary said, alluding to the ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and DOE-VPP accolades. Achieving these certifications and the recognition ORISE has received of being a DOE-VPP Star Site for safety excellence is a big deal.
Learn more about ORAU achieving ISO 14001:2015 recertification.
Learn more about ORAU being registered to the ISO 9001 quality standard.
Learn more about ORISE holding VPP Star Status since 2004.
Little decisions add up to big decisions. Or, to put it more eloquently, individual behaviors significantly influence the reputation of a company’s brand.
“Our high expectations put a little more pressure on our employees because it is on each one to do the right and responsible thing, but our mission fulfills our promise to set ORAU as a pillar in our community and a leader in the industry,” Clary said. “And our employees are committed to putting action behind that promise.”
From left: Brittany Grindle, Shannon Prater, Christina Baloga, Andrew Owens, Kevin Freytag, Cody Williams, Eli Byrge, Scott Cox, Chelsea Buckner, Jennifer Clary, Jessica Banks, James Buckner, Nicole Merrifield, Marcia Mask, Andy Page, Keri Cagle, and Bo McNeil
Watch this wrap-up video of ORAU’s 2025 Earth Day event!