American Retroworks Inc., an independent TV and computer collector and consultant, headquartered in Middlebury, Vt., announced it has vetted a simple "CRT Glass Test" for recyclers to participate in -- if they want to show that they are really recycling.
Eventually, American Retroworks Inc. hopes that state contracts will disqualify unscrupulous exporters, and municipalities and other organizations will purchase exclusively from those contracts. In the meantime, however, the CRT glass recycling test provides a simple and effective way for recyclers to perform "due diligence".
"CRT glass contains most of the toxic lead, and typically represents over 40 percent of the weight of mixed electronics. If the processor reports 10 million pounds of electronics recycling (after repair and reuse), then you should look for about 400,000 lbs. of glass to be recycled domestically", says Robin Ingenthron, founder and president of American Retroworks. "Most of the recyclers we surveyed in the Northeast were more than happy to provide this type of documentation, and applaud the test.
Ingenthron recognized that various Pledges and Certifications are available, but says they are too difficult for most generators to understand. "Some certifications and organizational memberships are available to any bidder," he says. "Waste managers are busy people, and they wind up using 'EPA ID Numbers' -- which could as well be superfund sites -- and other information which is basically meaningless."
Organizations and companies which commented on the test include non-profits such as Basel Action Network, Per Scholas, SVTC, EPA, and VBMEX (Vermont's Business Materials Exchange network), as well as professionals such as Envirocycle, ElectroniCycle, Dlubek, Total Reclaim, NewTech, and others.
After changes and clarifications, the new CRT test has been posted publicly at http://www.retroworks.com/publications.htm.
Ingenthron was previously vice president of ElectroniCycle Inc. of Massachusetts, an official CRT recycling company.
American Retroworks and ElectroniCycle split amicably last May, and Ingenthron reopened a processing and consolidation facility in Middlebury, Vermont, doing business as Good Point Recycling. Good Point Recycling delivers CRT glass to ElectroniCycle.
"We are a very small operation," says Ingenthron, "but we hope to use our
hands-on experience to raise the bar, and leverage the very best recycling
practices."