Old phones, laptops and broken electronics clutter UK landfills – but one Bolton organisation has been fighting this ‘e-waste’ crisis for three years.
In that time, Recycle-IT! has saved 30 tonnes of discarded parts from the tip – using them to build affordable computers and phones for ‘digitally excluded’ people.
And now, it has a new location in Market Place Shopping Centre.
Recycle-IT! started as many great enterprises do – out of a basement.
John Hastings, its founder, said: “All we had was a laptop, a bench, £250 and the belief that digital technology shouldn't have to cost the earth”.
John was a former offender in the 2000s with 19 convictions to his name.
By the time he founded the company, he had turned things around.
He said: “Some years ago, I had an epiphany to stop making the wrong choices.
“And that every single one of my actions start with a thought.
“It helped quiet my mind and start to sort things out.
“Before the pandemic, I had been a support worker for people with autism and disabilities.
"But then I was furloughed and let go.
“I had learned about Recycle-IT!, which had been socially franchised in 2006.
“And jumped at the chance of bringing it to Bolton.
“Computers were something I always loved. I took apart my first when I was 11, a ZX Spectrum.”
Recycle-IT! had begun in Luton in 1995, and John decided to revive it here as a CIC.
He said: “We started in a basement in Commerce House.
“And began partnering with schools and local businesses, encouraging them to recycle their old electronics.
“They would donate them to us.
“And we would make them into affordable computers, phones and other technology sold in our eBay store.
“In the industry, a refurbished computer can cost somewhere around £30 and they'll charge £200 margin on top of that.
“We would not.
“We would sell a T11 computer where the base unit cost £37, but when you put it together, we would still only charge £50.”
As time went on, awareness began to grow.
John said: “I didn't know quite how I was going to do it, but I knew Recycle-IT! had to be community-centric.
“Local libraries began donating their old equipment for us to reuse.
“That’s when we knew we were onto something good.
“Colleges partnered with us so we could train their students in T-levels, giving them months of real-world experience in programming, engineering and AI.
“We called it our Digital Hive.”
And they began employing volunteers “from some of the most marginalised sections of society” to help with the business.
John said: “Many have been square pegs in round holes with special needs, learning disabilities or other barriers.
“We have tried to empower them.
“They helped us shape how we refurbish equipment, and decorated our new space.
“We couldn’t have grown without their 3,000 hours of work.”
And they have benefited too.
Callum Smith, 28, has volunteered at Recycle-IT! for more than a year.
He said: “I’ve been around computers most of my life and am a fan of technology.
“During coronavirus, I was made redundant from an apprenticeship.
“Volunteering here helped me regain my confidence with computers and work with other people.”
Nicolas Cardos, 18, also a volunteer, said: “When I first came here, I worked as a digital helper. It was very empty.
“I later took apart old computers and laptops.
“Being here helped me build my skillset and get used to a work environment.
“It’s good conditioning for the real world.
“I'd been isolated for a long time before I came and didn't really talk to anyone.
“Now, I’ve made some good friends that I still talk to.”
Recycle-IT! has continued to grow and move, and has refurbished 2,000 digital devices.
It boasts new staff and a board of directors - some of whom are former volunteers.
Now, it has officially moved to Bolton’s Market Place, where volunteers decorated and painted the premises.
At its grand opening, Bolton Council Leader Nick Peel cut a wire cable "ribbon" with pliers.
And Recycle-IT! has big plans for its new home.
John said: “We want to open a refill shop called Fill Your Boots to reduce single-use plastics.”
People can bring their own containers to fill up on items like cleaning products without the plastic packaging.
John said: “We’re starting the Digital Den, a drop-in hub for people to use our laptops and printers. It’s like the library, but with sandwiches and crisps.
“And an artist called Zayd Menk is making art and is going to use our electronic materials for an art installation.
“Around 80 per cent of small businesses don’t make it past three years.
“This has been a huge celebration for us.”
Customers can donate to the organisation or order something to collect via their official website.
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