June’s Spotlight of the Month: NextStep Recycling
For June, green is sexy caught up with Lorraine Kerwood of NextStep Recycling, an organization in Eugene that takes in your old electronic equipment, rebuilds them, and then puts them back into the hands of others who can use them…
Let’s start with a bit about NextStep recycling. How did the organization come together?
We came together because I have a need, and I learned members of my community had a similar need. I grew up thinking I was unintelligent. I was a “special ed” kind who received many labels. I got through life okay, working a series of working class jobs, but after being injured in a car accident, I was faced with the need to find a new way to earn money. I discovered that to attend college, students needed to know how to use a computer-and at the university, it was expected that students have computers in their homes.
I viewed the computer as symbolic of “what smart people” can do. Since I did not understand my own intelligence, I was not going to apply to college-because I was certain I would not be able to grasp how to use the technology.
After much prodding from my family, I enrolled in a beginners class in computers. I learned about word docs, the Internet, how to turn the computer on and off. I also learned, through great support of the instructor, that I was competent at using a computer. The instructor demystified the computer and explained to me that many folks (like me) who have a diagnosis on the Autism spectrum are very good at computer use.
After a few more adult ed classes in computers, I enrolled in college and was accepted. While a practicum student, I met kids and adults who had a similar experience as I did: either they did not understand their intelligence or they didn’t have money, or, they could not compete in class to get access to the computers.
My power supply died on my computer that I purchased for school. I tried to fix it, but I ended up killing the hard drive instead! I learned about the community of Mac users on the Internet, so I started researching how I could do better in the future. I learned that there are a ton of “regular” folk who have “how tos” on the web and who share parts. So, I started purchasing computers from thrift stores, learning how to upgrade/repair them. Once I was proficient at the repairs, I gave the working units to kids I was meeting and working with in child welfare. I also meet two local fellas-who, just like me, were new to computers but fascinated but the hardware. We worked together rebuilding Macs. It was a great garage based activity!
Folks in the community learned about MacRenewal and started dropping stuff of at my house. I begin making connections in the community-finding folks who needed to clean out their stored units and finding folks who needed access to computers.
As our knowledge and community connections grew, so did our skills.
Four years and 3000 computers later, I quit my job as a child welfare worker to see if I could take MacRenewal to the next level. After researching how to move a nonprofit out of a garage in to a public setting, Computer Reuse and Recycling was born. We now accepted PCs and, eventually, household electronics. We opened a recycling facility and a reuse store. As more folks approached us regarding their children with special needs, we designed a training program-where interested volunteers could learn different tasks-recycling of electronics, refurbishing of electronics, and reselling of refurbished electronics.
That’s an amazing story. When did this happen? How long has the org been going?
I started refurbishing in 1999, I hooked up with Mike and Foss in 2000, we were awarded nonprofit status in 2002, and we opened our first “out of the garage” on February 14, 2004.
Tell us about your role in the organization
I am the Executive Director. So, I do the community outreach thing, I do the staffing HR thing, I do the public speaking thing. What I don’t get to do any more is the refurbishing thing. That’s tough on me – I LOVE that part!
What is the mission of the organization?
Our mission is to provide technology and training to children and adults who have barriers to education and employment.
What types of things does NextStep take in for recycling and repair?
We accept all things electronic, non-electronic technology (like manual typewriters), office furniture, stretch wrap, EPS foam, household electronics.
What do you get too much of and what do you get too little of? What’s been a surprise about intake?
We receive more EPS foam than we would like. We occasionally receive garbage hidden inside donations. The random mouse, bird, and other critters. We have received some interesting things-like dentures, a human femur, a deer head. We also receive items would would prefer not to see, like mercury switches, but, our staff is trained to catch these items.
We don’t receive enough COMPUTERS or working cell phones. We gift cell phones to seniors, folks living in shelters, and to folks who do not have
homes-all of which feel safer in the world knowing they can use the gifted cell phone to call for emergent help. We also receive referrals from our local ATT, Sprint, and Cricket stores-for their customers who can not afford a replacement phone but are still on a contract. We sell refurbished phones to address this technology gap.
Is there a way for someone to easily send a cell phone or laptop if they are reading this now and realize they have one to give?
We encourage folks to ship USPS. This is generally cheaper and they come to us less damaged – folks send laptops and cell phones this way. We do get whole systems donated and pallets of computers.
What happens to all the electronics once they are fixed? Do you sell them or give them away?
We have four adoption programs.
- Social service gifting: a social service worker (Dr. Nurse, teacher, social service specialist) makes a referral to NextStep. We place technology with the recipient. The provider generally covers the $50.00 admin fee.
- Volunteer training education grant: we offer a variety of training programs. Recycling: 30 hours, refurbishment: 90 hours, reuse sales: 40 hours. When a volunteer completes the training, we complete the process by gifting a computer. This completes the educational experience and connects them up to the wide world.
- Partners in Solidarity > international placements gifting: we partner with international nonprofits (schools, social service orgs, health clinics) and place computer labs all over the world. Last year we gifted to Guatemala, Ecuador, Mexico, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Bolivia, and others. We do not place with individuals, but with other NGOs-so we know the technology is getting where it needs to go and so we know the hardware is being maintained.
- Kith and Kin > foster children placements. We gift directly to children in the foster care system. It is our goal that every child living in the foster care system have access to technology. Studies show that children living in foster care who have access to technology are more likely to succeed in their lives.
We also sell electronics at low cost in our two reuse stores, on eBay, and on Craig’s List. We will be launching our own online store in the next few months to further our mission.
Tell us a bit about international placements gifting with non-profit organizations with electronics. How did that come to be?
I have been in the nonprofit world for most of my adult life. I was raised to understand that a life worth living is one filled with service work. I know how much nonprofits struggle to do the work needed in our communities. We have worked with nonprofits since the beginning. Access to technology can improve the level of service nonprofits provide our community, and make life so much easier for the employees and volunteers!
Was the initial intent of the org to recycle or get involved with other organizations – or have they always been working together?
As a child welfare worker, I quickly learned that it truly does take an umbrella of services to support our most marginalized populations. Parents, teachers, and medical providers all need help to meet the needs of our children. So, focusing on this work has been a paramount concern.
In 2004, when we opened our donation doors to PCs and household electronics, we had to create a recycling program. Reuse and refurbishment was our first calling, but, as soon as we accepted PCs, we had an avalanche of dead hardware to deal with! Each time we have decided to take a different item, we have researched what to do with the non-reusable material.
There are so many amazing things that NextStep is involved with. What, in your opinion, is the most rewarding thing about the NextStep?
I love to be part of community members connecting with the world. We have folks who have been recently laid off, looking for new skills. After training and receiving the technology grant we are told that: they can connect with unemployment in a more timely fashion; apply for social security, communicate with doctors, stay connected to family and children, research an illness. All this because the recipient has access to technology they did not have.
What effects or feedback have you received?
Well, folks are delighted to learn we kept 8 million pounds of electronics waste out of our Short Mountain landfill. When someone donates money and understands that means someone in our community will have a tool to move them forward in their lives, they get excited. We have lots of thank yous from community members who have been impacted by technology grants, training opportunities, and other volunteer opportunities.
What are your plans for the future of NextStep?
Right now, our plans are to keep our doors open and our services running. At the end of last year, the scrap market plummeted, the new economy rolled out, and a new electronics recycling law was introduced in Oregon. We are no longer able to charge a processing fee for material we refurbish. We can accept the material, but only receive a small income on material if we send it to a shredder. Since we are a reuse organization, this also limits our income. Times are very challenging right now. That said, we would like to open more receiving depots and reuse stores to share NextStep opportunities.
You can contact Lorraine by emailing her. To learn more about NextStep recycling or to make a donation, visit them on the web You can donate your old electronics via USPS or donate to them via their site.
