American Retroworks Partnering with Mexican Firm

American Retroworks, based in Vermont, has established a partnership with a woman-owned cooperative to create Retroworks de Mexico in northern Mexico. The newly formed operation aims to replicate American Retroworks’ operations to recycle electronic scrap

The new facility will recycle electronics similar to the way Retroworks has, using repair and salvage value to keep proper environmental management more affordable, and to create more jobs. Representatives from the Mexican firm are being trained in Vermont, while several American Retroworks staff are working to develop the staff in Mexico.

The factory will open in a building that was abandoned close to 20 years ago. The new company is expected to bring 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. He adds that 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 United States 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.

"Our message to the Mexican community is that environmental jobs are an open door, with no ceiling," Ingenthron states. "All you need to be qualified is to lift a TV or computer. But you can learn to take bad ones apart, and to put good ones back together. Internet marketing is a skill you can bring anywhere in the world"