Shannon Fertitta has been the Global Recycling Standards Organization (GRSO) Executive Director for the last seven months. Though she’s still relatively new to the role she has a long history in the recycled materials industry. She managed an electronics recycling facility for 22 years in Baton Rouge, LA and was deeply involved in responsible recycling.
“We were R2 and RIOS certified recyclers for Louisiana,” she said. “We did significant work for the state helping Louisiana be a more environmentally responsible state, I was really proud to be a part of that.”
Fertitta was on the board for RIOS for five years before moving into her current position as Executive Director. Over the past seven months she’s worked to expand her knowledge of the industry beyond electronics recycling and has developed several ideas and plans for the organization.
ReMA News had the chance to sit down with Fertitta during ReMA2025 to learn more about her vision for RIOS, her background, experience in the recycled materials industry, and the importance of having a safety system in place.
Tell me about your vision for GRSO and RIOS.
Listening to ReMA’s keynote speaker Jesse Cole, founder of Savannah Bananas, got me thinking about how different we are from the status quote. I thought about what makes RIOS different from other similar products. Of course, you can find health and safety tools and quality control tools online to help your company, so how is RIOS different? RIOS provides a holistic solution; we are a problem solver for recyclers.
If you are a recycling company, I want RIOS to be a secure framework for every step of your recycling journey and operation. I want to provide a human touch to the process. This is a product, but you also receive service and support.
When a facility is new to RIOS and gets a little “stuck” during the steps of implementation, help is only a phone call or email away! Guidance from our team, which includes a robust board of experts from the industry, is included with RIOS membership. We are committed to proactive communication and are here to help if you have questions along the way.
What is your experience in the recycled materials industry?
Like many recyclers, I didn’t pick the industry; the industry picked me. I went to college to become a teacher and teach high school English. After graduating, I took a job with a small recycler in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and I stayed there for a long time.
The organization I managed previously, CACRC Baton Rouge, is the only R2/RIOS certified organization in the state of Louisiana. We were deeply involved in responsible recycling and helped Louisiana become more environmentally responsible. In 2024, CACRC rescued nearly 2 million pounds of electronic waste from the landfill and provided thousands of refurbished devices to families and students in need. CACRC was awarded the “Green Biz” award by Keep Louisiana Beautiful, and several Environmental Leadership awards from LA DEQ through the years.
I was on the board for of RIOS for five years before moving to this staff position. It’s been a wonderful experience and I’ve grown so much over the last seven months and expanding my knowledge of the industry.
Walk me through RIOS. Why is it important for recyclers to have a safety system in place?
Great things don’t happen to your business by accident. You need to take the wheel. You need great people and a great plan. The recycling facilities [at ReMA2025] have great people; great people are bountiful. But you need a good system, and your people need to be active participants in that plan. That’s where RIOS comes in.
One of the most critical things a recycler can do is evaluate their facility and identify any risks or hazards. That’s part of nature—protecting yourself from risks and hazards. RIOS is a system that’s based on assessing risks and hazards and becoming better by mitigating those risks. That’s the biggest benefit of RIOS. RIOS provides a framework to help recyclers set up the best possible outcomes for workers, for their health and safety, and for quality control measures.
Everyone wants to have a good reputation within their local community and for the community to trust and lean on them. RIOS can help you do just that.
What advice would you give a recycler who’s on the fence about RIOS?
I believe in the greatness of this industry and the importance of our work. Think about what you are doing now and what you could do to improve and be a little better. How can you take your work to the next level?
If RIOS hasn’t been on your radar or you haven’t heard of it before, now could be a perfect time to get acquainted with it. With all the regulations and mandates on the horizon, now is a good time to get in front of these issues and demonstrate the good work you’re doing. Be transparent. RIOS is a great tool to help you do this.
Regardless of whether you choose RIOS or another safety system, you should be proud of your work—wear it like a badge of honor and tell others about it. Recycling is essential and people should appreciate recyclers for their important work, so it’s important to showcase yourself and your facility in the best possible light.
What have you found most valuable about attending ReMA2025?
This is my first ReMA convention, and it’s been a whirlwind. Jesse Cole, the keynote speaker, was so awesome and inspirational. He made me want to buy a yellow suit and hat [laughs]. The other great part about being here is that I get to meet with the people I’ve been talking to on the phone and emailing with. I’m a people person, so I’m glad I get this chance. ReMA conventions provide a great opportunity for everyone to come together from every corner of the industry to enjoy fellowship, have meals together, and help each other grow.
