Robin's Recycling Adventures: A Modern-Day Robin Hood Saving the Earth, One Gadget at a Time

In a world where amazing gadgets often bring harm to our environment, there's a modern hero who fights against electronic waste, just like Robin Hood fought for justice. Meet Robin Ingenthron, the E-Waste Robin Hood, who has dedicated his life to making electronics better for our planet. He's like a superhero who takes from the places with too much waste (landfills full of old gadgets) and gives back to the places that need help (the environment and communities that are struggling).

Imagine all the old TVs, cell phones, computers, and other electronic gadgets that you use and eventually throw away. Well, Robin Ingenthron and his team at Good Point Recycling collected millions and millions of these discarded gadgets. Can you believe they collected 5 million pounds (Approximately 2,268 Tonnes)  of electronic stuff every year, just from Vermont? That's like collecting as much weight as 500 elephants every year!

Robin has been on a mission to save the planet since he was just a teenager in the 1970s. Growing up in Arkansas, he was inspired by a book called State of the World by Lester Brown, which showed him the importance of taking care of our planet. This developed a passion for recycling, and he's kept that excitement his whole life.
Robin's recycling journey started when he was a young man. He worked tirelessly for non-profit organizations, all while driving a recycling truck and studying for an MBA at night. His determination and hard work paid off, and he became a consultant and eventually a Division Program Director for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) Recycling from 1992 to 2000.

From Electronics to Saving Nature: A Big Change

Robin Ingenthron didn't start out as an environmental hero. He actually began his career by fixing electronics. But as he learned more, he realized that there was a big problem – lots of old gadgets were being thrown away and hurting the Earth. This made him really worried, and he decided to do something about it. He changed from being a businessman to being someone who wants to help our planet.

The Birth of Good Point Recycling

In response to the electronic waste problem, Robin started Good Point Recycling. Just like Robin Hood shared wealth with the poor, Ingenthron shared value from old gadgets to make a good solution. Good Point Recycling rescues old electronics fixes them, and gives them another chance to be used. This helps keep e-waste out of landfills and gives people a chance to buy electronics that are still good.

Working all around the globe, Robin Ingenthron began his journey by travelling to different parts of the world to meet the most skilled and talented people in the recycling industry. He has been impressed by their abilities and has continued to work with them over the past two decades. He's not just building his own company, Good Point Recycling, but also helping people worldwide learn valuable skills and earn a fair wage, inspiring everyone around them.

One example of this is Retroworks de Mexico in Sonora, Mexico, which Robin helped start in 2007. This company is run entirely by women and aims to empower them while also benefiting the environment. Instead of permanently bringing electronic waste from the U.S., they buy old televisions, take them apart for useful parts, and send leftover materials to a certified facility for proper processing.

In 2006, Robin also created something called Fair Trade Recycling. It's like a team of experts who care about the Earth. They work in the U.S. and other countries to make sure recycling is done fairly. They want to get rid of harmful stuff when recycling electronics. This team has members in places like Africa, Asia, and South America. This helps create more jobs and opportunities.

Robin noticed that some of the smartest people who fix things are in countries like Mexico and Ghana. By giving them old electronics to fix and reuse, he's not only providing them with work but also allowing them to use their amazing skills to help the environment.

Robin didn't just stop at recycling; he used his expertise to share important ideas with the world. He created a blog called Good Point Ideas, where he talks about recycling policies and solutions. He believes that sharing knowledge is a powerful way to make positive changes.

Robin also fought against something called "blackwashing." This is when big industries try to make good recycling practices look bad, using unfair tactics. Robin stood up against this campaign and exposed the truth, showing that real recycling is better for the environment than harmful mining and extraction processes.

Robin's central philosophy has stayed strong since the 1970s. He believes that using up Earth's resources now is like borrowing from our future generations. He's also passionate about changing laws that give unfair advantages to companies that extract raw materials. He knows that recycling, even with its imperfections, is still much better for the planet than damaging mining practices.

Robin believes that everyone has a role to play in recycling. It's not just about throwing things away – it's about participating and doing our best to recycle and reuse. He believes that if we work together and focus on quality, we can make a huge difference in creating a greener and cleaner world.

So, next time you see an old gadget or electronic device, remember Robin Ingenthron, the recycling innovator who has dedicated his life to making the Earth a better place for all of us, and for the generations yet to come.