In Oaxaca, Mexico, a green business finds a home
When old refrigerators aren’t disposed of correctly, they can emit gases that deplete the ozone layer. That’s a big problem in Mexico, where small recycling centres often don’t follow proper procedures. UNIDO has addressed this problem by training thousands of technicians, as well as by helping to open state-of-the-art recovery and recycling centres throughout the country.
Marina Pérez Montiel, a co-owner of Refrihogar, a refrigeration and air conditioning servicing business in Oaxaca, explains.
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Refrihogar is a small family enterprise dedicated to refrigeration and air conditioning that started its business in Oaxaca City 24 years ago.
About seven years ago, we started preparing for the switch to new refrigerants as a result of Mexico’s obligations under the Montreal Protocol. We called the National Ozone Protection Unit to request information about a training course on good practices in refrigeration and air conditioning. Later we received an invitation to apply to become a recovery and recycling centre. These centres assist technicians in carrying out good practices, particularly in the recovery and recycling of refrigerants. We were fortunate to be chosen.
Immediately after our selection, we received training, including how to operate the new equipment that we received. We looked for and found a suitable place for our centre in the municipality of San Francisco Lachigoló, some 19 km away from the city of Oaxaca. In Lachigoló people speak Zapotec, one of 18 languages and dialects spoken in the state. In this language, lachi means flat and goloo means large or first.
We worked to integrate ourselves and our business into the new community. The construction of our centre began with the submission of our requests for permits to the municipality. In Lachigoló, officials are elected through a traditional form of governance based on indigenous customs and serve on a volunteer basis. They open the municipal offices at 8pm after they have finished with their daytime activities.
It was difficult to get the permits, since many people had concerns about handling refrigerant gases and hazardous waste. We invited those people to our facilities and showed them what we were doing. We explained in multiple visits to the municipality that there was nothing unsafe about what we were doing. On the contrary, our work was to protect the environment for the benefit of future generations.
Finally, we were able to convince the officials, which allowed us to get federal authorization as well. Now we are part of Lachigoló, and our recovery and recycling centre is as well. Lots of our time and effort has gone into opening of the centre, but we know that it will bring results.
Personally I am very satisfied that I could gain more knowledge in the field that I have dedicated myself to, particularly in that as a woman I am working in a field where traditionally men are employed.
It is important to us to create jobs for local people, to share the training given to us with our workers and to implement good practices in the handling of refrigerants. We know that every activity we conduct contributes to the protection of the environment.
For more information, see:
Mexico taking the lead in Latin America in phasing out ozone depleting substances