Vermont Electronics Recycler expands

Good Point Recycling of Middlebury, Vermont, has announced the recycling of its ten millionth pound of electronics. While other states debate, legislate, and ponder the safe management of used computer and TVs, Good Point has quietly established Vermont as the second highest per-capita recycler of electronics in the nation.
After holding several one-day events for used electronics collections in Vermont (under the American Retroworks Inc. banner, www.retroworks.com) beginning in 1999, Good Point contracted as an official collection agent in 2001 for ElectroniCycle, Inc. - the official Cathode Ray Tube glass recycler for Massachusetts and Maine. After its reuse-and-recycle model spread to every part of Vermont, Good Point opened its own independent operation in 2003. Through continued expansion, the company now employs 10 in Addison County, Vermont, and collects in a 300 mile radius. Good Point still delivers over 1 million pounds per year of used electronics to the Massachusetts DEP recycling contractor, while expanding its on-line reuse and scrap metal operations in Middlebury. But the company also receives over 10,000 parts requests per month through its international, online, parts listserve. The company documents hard drive destruction for commerical clients, an environmental audit trail, and documents recycling of lead glass (banned from disposal in waste facilities) into new TV and monitor tubes.
Robin Ingenthron, founder of Good Point Recycling and American Retroworks Inc., attributes success to "common sense" management of used computers and TVs. "Some states, like California, require recyclers to destroy everything, and it costs 68 cents per pound. Other recyclers don't recycle at all, but dump everything overseas, for 'free'. We have charged a modest fee - like the toll at the Washington bridge, abd reuse the good parts to subsidize proper domestic recycling of the bad parts." Ingenthron has been hired as a consultant to EPA (Washington), Dell Computer (Texas), Chinas EPA, and the National Recycling Coalition. Ingenthron hopes a new patent for computer gold recycling will propel the company farther, while creating a stronger domestic market for "e-waste".
Good Point Recycling operates a job training program with the Addison County Employment Services, to help train under-employed Vermonters to repair, recycle, or re-sell electronics on-line.
In 2004, Good Point Recycling helped launch the international trade association WR3A (World Reuse, Repair and Recycling Association), with corporate members in several states and countries, dedicated to legitimate trade in reuse items without sending 'toxics along for the ride'. Visit www.wr3a.org for more information about environmentally sound, and economically fair, recycling trade worldwide.
For more information about electronics recycling in Vermont, visit www.good-point.net or www.retroworks.com