|
Back Issues |
|
Community
Service
The warehouse is still pretty new ... large, bright, and with a wide variety of articles: clothing, shoes, furniture, appliances ... and most of all, computers and peripherals, like printers and monitors. The latter are stacked about, some on pallets, ready for a Tuesday pick-up, others waiting to be checked to see if they can be repaired or used for parts. ... In the open space is Ron Grace. With his background in computer tech and a degree in Electronics, Ron takes on the task of resurrecting the computers ... repairing some, cannibalizing others for parts ... testing, swapping, until ... !!! ... a PC that might have been headed for the landfill is working again, and can now end up in the home of a youngster who otherwise would not have been able to afford one ... or in Honduras, or Columbia, or Africa, where, for the fortunate recipient, an old 486 is like getting your hands on the newest Pentium III. Recycling Big Time: This is all part of Vermont Retroworks, a non-profit world where Ron can't be content to simply do the job he was hired for. Instead, he also directs the warehouse operations. With him are Brian Sprigg, a trainee who, with the support of the local DET office, is learning from Ron about everything from forklifts to what makes a PC tick. With them is Issac Fleming, there for some Community Service, and also picking up some skills ... and interest ... along the way.
Together, they're getting the inventory organized for an out-going shipment. The truck is coming on Tuesday, and they still have lots of material to go through, sort, palletize, weigh, and wrap. Only then will it be ready to go. "We sort it all out," Ron explains -- greenboards, monitors, printers, plastic, metals. "About 30% of what we get works. Another 40% is repairable. And the remaining 30%, we cannibalize for parts. ... The parts from several different machines can then be used to make one that works. The rest gets recycled." And get recycled it does. ... In fact, the operation, which runs in the new Addison County Community Action Group [ACCAG] facility up on Boardman St. in Middlebury, has drawn the attention of the national media. U.S. News & World Report, The Boston Globe ... even The Wall Street Journal {See this month's link to Vermont Retroworks to read these articles.} ... All have written about the operations at Vermont Retroworks, which is becoming a model for the nation's recycling facilities. So explains Robin Ingerthron, the man Ron Grace describes as "the idea" behind the entire operation. Beyond the Environmental End: Robin is an interesting guy. A Peace Corps vet with three years in Cameroon, he knows what this recycling operation can mean, not only for the environment, but here at home, and in third-world countries, as well. "Take India, for example," he begins. "It's the 2nd largest software writing country in the world. But there are barefoot technicians who don't have the machines they need to get the work done."
"It's the same with the clothing we ship," he explains. "Here in the U.S., if a zipper breaks or a button falls off, we don't take the time to fix it. We simply go out and buy new. But at a port like Lagos, people line up on the dock waiting for shipments old clothing to repair. They don't care if it's damaged or stained." "We got a grant from the EPA to do a study," Robin continues. "We surveyed about 600 recycling facilities to get a better idea of what's fixable and what's not. ... Old color monitors, for example, are usually very easy to fix. And there are a lot of people who wouldn't mind being able to use an older VGA monitor at all." ... One man's ceiling is another man's floor. ... That seems to be one of the guiding principles of Vermont Retroworks. ... ... Ron's reflections tend to stay closer to home. ... "You know," he says. "I suppose I could be working at IBM or somewhere else where I could add a few more bucks to somebody's profit margin." In fact, he did once upon a time. He pauses a moment. "But when I can get a PC to work again and know that some kid out there will be able to have a computer she otherwise couldn't get ..." He pauses again, then ends: "That just makes my day. It makes it all seem worthwhile."
It's not only the PC's and other materials that get recycled, though. Profits are recycled, as well. Any profits from the operation are pumped back into ACCAG. As a result, they end up going toward the support of many local community service efforts. One even cycles back through Vermont Retroworks. ... Through ACCAG, low income folks who are eligible can obtain $50 vouchers toward the purchase of one of Vermont Retroworks' PC's, or a printer ... whatever. And members of the same household can pool their vouchers, too. PC's and other recyclables come to Vermont Retroworks form individuals and businesses. And they can save money, too. By bringing their old PC's and computer peripherals to the Retroworks facility, instead of having to pay the usual 25¢/lb., they can pay only 15¢ ... or $5 for a complete system. ... Recycling began as an environmental initiative. And it remains important in that respect. But the operation at Vermont Retroworks is a working testament to the fact that recycling can, in fact, have a much wider purpose. ... And done right, it's something that benefits everyone. Vermont Retroworks does it right. ... And then some. . ******* ******* If you would like to submit something for our Community Service feature, or if you simply would like to suggest something you think we ought to cover, e-mail us at ... autotravel@downstreetmagazine.com. ******* ******* If you would like to advertise in this section, or throughout the magazine, please visit our Advertising Info Pages ... or call, write, or e-mail ads@downstreetmagazine.com. ******* ******* |
|
*******
******* ******* ******* For more information, contact DownStreet Magazine by ...
Phone
(802) 453-5124 All
material copyrighted © 2000-2001. All rights
reserved. |
