American Retroworks Inc. Assists E-Scrap Recycling Partner in Mexico

"Retroworks de Mexico" is a partnership between Vermont's American Retroworks and a women-controlled coop in northern Mexico. RdM will try to repeat the success by turning used electronics into jobs in this depresed mining community. RDM already has major purchase orders for recycled CRT glass.

(PRWEB) November 14, 2006 -- Recycling TVs and computers is "down cold" in New England, where CRT disposal has been banned for several years in most counties and states. Now recycling is heating up south of the border. "Retroworks de Mexico" is a partnership between Vermont's American Retroworks Inc. and a women's cooperative managed plant in the Sonora region.

The new facility will recycle electronics in bulk, using salvage value to keep environmental management affordable, and to create more jobs. Mariano Huchim and Francisco Pancho Arreola are cross training in at ARI's "Good Point Recycling" facility in Middlebury for 7 weeks. Three American staff have visited Mexico and interviewed key team members. The company will operate in an abandoned factory, bringing jobs to an economically depressed mining community.

"We are proud of the relationships we are building," says Robin Ingenthron, ARI president and a shareholder in RDM. "The brave ladies in the cooperative will be our eyes and ears." The foremen represent Mexico's finest -- Arreola is a former vice mayor and auto repair shop manager, and Huchim is a computer technician. Connections with the local metal smelting industry has resulted in purchase orders to RDM for 20,000 tons of CRT glass, in either separated form (for glass-to-glass recycling) or for low-end fluxing agent.

According to Ingenthron, Retroworks de Mexico may eventually operate as a Maquila, taking used electronics from the USA for demanufacture and re-export of separated materials to the states (Mexico is an OECD country). However, the facility is currently concentrating on refurbishment or recycling of computers and televisions from within Mexico's borders.

"Environmental jobs are an open door, with no ceiling," Ingenthron states. "The only starting qualification is to lift a TV or computer. But you can learn to take bad ones apart, and earn more by putting good ones back together. Internet marketing is a skill you can bring anywhere in the world."

Creating sustainable environmental jobs is a fascinating prospect in this region. Mariano Huchim says, "We are good at fixing things, and good at grading metals. And these guys really care about the earth." By combining his community's strengths with gringo environmental stewardship, RDM aspires to become a world class operation. A digital divide organization, CCLAC of southern Arizona, came up with the idea, and will hold a share of the company.

Even if success proves more modest, the cross-border friendships make it all worthwhile, Ingenthron notes. Huchim saw his first snowflake in Middlebury last week, and plans a snowboarding lesson in December.

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