GreenCitizen
1831 Bayshore Highway, Suite 2, Burlingame, California, United States

To develop a sustainable metropolitan model that provides individuals and businesses with a convenient and accountable way to recycle electronics in the San Francisco Bay Area. GreenCitizen provides pickup services for businesses, and a convenient drop off location for consumers at its Burlingame Education EcoCenter.

GreenCitizen is 100% self-sustaining, without government funding or donations. Revenues generated by 10% of the newer recycled computers and electronics covers the company’s operational expenses, and the proper disposal of older electronics. Since inception, GreenCitizen saved over 20 million pounds of electronics from local landfills and global dumps. It has extended the life of over 210,000 reusable computers and electronics, as well as servicing over 200,000 consumers and 20,000 businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2017, to further its socially responsible mission, GreenCitizen launches its GreenCitizen for public schools initiative.

By donating 10% of its staff time to refurbishing computers and electronics that are 2012 or newer for local public schools, GreenCitizen works to bridge the digital divide between public school students and their counterparts in well-funded private schools. This program offers deep discounts toward purchasing refurbished computers and electronic equipment. It also enables public schools with limited IT budgets, to upgrade aging computers and electronics, providing higher quality of education to their students.

Although electronic waste only accounts for 2% of America’s trash, it’s responsible for over 70% of the nation’s hazardous waste. The EPA estimates that 4 out of 5 units sent to electronic recyclers are shipped to unregulated electronic waste dumps in developing countries.

All recycling items are refurbished and resold, or dismantled responsibly. The separate components are recycled locally with E-Steward or R2 certified vendors all within 150 miles of the Bay area. Recycling locally not only reduces transportation costs, but also prevents us from harming the environment by shipping hazardous waste overseas.