Tech Dump provides new purpose
March 23, 2018
A Minnesota enterprise is tackling the problem of e-waste, and it’s not just old printers and hardware that it’s giving a second chance to.
Despite the name, nothing taken to Tech Dump, which has three locations across Minneapolis and St. Paul’s, is dumped. As KARE 11 News reports, everything the company receives is either refurbished, or recycled.
“A lot of it our team will disassemble down to the cord, board, plastic, steel, which at that point they’re all commodities,” explains the company’s CEO, Amanda LaGrange.
Since 2011, 20 million pounds of e-waste has passed through Tech Dump, with 85 percent being recycle, and the remaining 15 percent refurbished – an endeavour that presents its challenges, particularly regarding data security.
“Any hard drive that comes in here that we re-use has to be wiped and make sure that all the data’s off,” team member Tom Becicka reveals.
LaGrange says Tech Dump provides “a triple bottom line impact of planet, profit, and people,” explaining that the enterprise offers a second chance to more than just old printers and computer hardware.
Of the company’s 54-strong workforce, 75 percent have faced “some sort of work barrier.” It regards itself as “a stepping stone” social enterprise, teaching life skills to its employees, many of whom are only with the company for a year.
“Once someone has a felony on their record it becomes incredibly difficult for them to prove that they are not defined by their worst day,” says LaGrange. “So, we’re giving individuals the opportunity to show all the things that they have to bring to an employer.”
Tom Becicka is one such individual; prior to working at Tech Dump, there was a fifteen-year gap in his CV, which came about partly due to a struggle with drugs and alcohol.
“Ah, I came here because I… I was having some problems finding a job,” he explains. “I ended up homeless for a while… it affected me a lot there.”
Becicka focussed on sobriety, and began attending job interviews, but it was only Tech Dump that called him back – and it was the help he needed.
“Personally, I’m getting my life back in order,” he declares.
For LaGrange, the environmental benefits of recycling e-waste isn’t the only advantage to Tech Dump.
“We’re working to equip people with the confidence, the resume’ experience, and relevant skills to translate into their new job opportunity,” she says. “Every individual that walks in has something to contribute. They have a role to play. We need them here every day to run our business.”
Categories : Around the Industry
