Electronics Recycler Opens in Rhode Island

Ewaste Technology Management, LLC, has opened an electronics recycling facility in Cranston, R.I. which it is calling ETM Green. The grand opening celebration, held Jan. 14, was at the company’s 16,000 square foot facility.

Thurston Hartford, president and CEO of Ewaste Technology, said that one area that the company will be targeting is the household and small business sector, areas typically not pursued by many electronics recycling firms.

One plan that the company hopes to pursue is working with the various Chambers of Commerce to develop programs to bring in material from many of the companies and people affiliated with those organizations.

In addition to providing electronics recycling services, Hartford adds that the company is providing protection against data loss and identity theft risks.

In his welcoming statements, Hartford added, "This is the beginning of a new era in recycling right here in Rhode Island. Discarded electronics and appliances should never end up in a landfill or get dumped in a river in China where the materials contained within can pollute the environment."

ETM Green de-manufactures each piece of equipment at its recycling facility, stripping it into parts and components which are sent back to the original manufacturer to make new products, or transferred to another processor or smelting plant.

ETM Green collects and processes many types of electronics for recycling including (but not limited to): television sets, CPUs, copiers, printers, fax machines, stereos, DVD players, cell phones, digital cameras, telephones, game systems, and many household appliances.

While this is the first ETM facility, Hartford notes that he has a background in the electronics recycling industry, having opened another facility several years ago before selling that.

His interest in re-entering the electronics recycling industry came with a meeting with angel investors, who were looking to invest in a "green" industry, something Hartford was familiar with.

Along with some private financing, the company also found good success with some financing programs with the city of Cranston, which offered the company a low interest loan to open the facility.

While the company presently has 17 employees, they are looking to add more staff as the company grows its business.