What is the name of your organization?
ReTech for Kids
What is the name of your solution?
ReTech for Kids
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
A nonprofit organization that collects, refurbishes, and redistributes second-hand technology to underserved communities around the globe.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Midlothian, VA, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
United States
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
In a world increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, the environmental cost of our technology consumption is becoming impossible to ignore. Electronic waste, or e-waste, is the fastest-growing solid waste stream globally, with over 53.6 million metric tons generated in 2019 alone. By 2030, this number is expected to rise to 74 million metric tons, according to the United Nations. Despite the toxic components found in electronics—such as lead, mercury, and cadmium—less than 20% of e-waste is formally recycled. The rest ends up in landfills or is processed through informal sectors, often in low-income countries, where unsafe dismantling exposes workers and communities to hazardous substances.
This growing crisis is fueled by rapid consumer upgrade cycles, planned obsolescence, and a lack of accessible repair or reuse infrastructure. In the U.S., millions of still-functional laptops, tablets, and desktops are discarded each year by households, businesses, and schools—many due to software bloat or minor hardware issues. These discarded devices represent not just a threat to environmental health but a missed opportunity to extend the life of valuable materials. Left unaddressed, the e-waste crisis will continue to pollute ecosystems, endanger human health, and deplete finite natural resources.
What is your solution?
ReTech for Kids is a nonprofit initiative that reduces electronic waste by collecting, refurbishing, and redistributing discarded technology—such as laptops, tablets, and desktops—that would otherwise end up in landfills. Instead of allowing functional devices to become toxic waste, we extend their lifespan through environmentally conscious refurbishment practices.
We partner with schools, businesses, and individuals to collect used electronics. These devices are then cleaned, repaired, and upgraded by trained student volunteers. On the hardware side, we replace outdated or faulty components—like hard drives, RAM, and batteries—using salvaged parts whenever possible. On the software side, we install lightweight, open-source Linux operating systems that restore full functionality even to older hardware, eliminating the need for resource-heavy commercial software.
Once fully refurbished, these devices are distributed to students in need, ensuring they are used again instead of discarded. By diverting electronics from the waste stream and eliminating the demand for new manufacturing, our model reduces pollution, conserves raw materials, and promotes a circular economy. In short, we turn waste into opportunity—protecting the environment while meeting a critical need for technology access.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution directly serves two populations: underserved students who lack access to personal technology, and the broader communities affected by the growing crisis of electronic waste.
The primary beneficiaries are students from low-income households who are often excluded from the digital world due to the high cost of new devices. Many attend Title I schools or live in rural or under-resourced areas where families cannot afford laptops or tablets. Without access to reliable technology, these students face significant barriers in completing homework, attending virtual classes, applying to jobs or college, and building essential digital skills.
At the same time, our solution indirectly benefits communities burdened by e-waste, particularly those near landfills or informal recycling centers. Electronic waste often contains toxic materials that leach into soil and water, posing serious health and environmental risks.
ReTech for Kids addresses both needs by intercepting discarded devices, refurbishing them using sustainable practices, and redistributing them to students who need them most. This not only diverts harmful waste from the environment, but also gives students access to tools that support education and opportunity—ensuring that what would have become pollution instead becomes progress.
