Foodstuffs North Island is helping to reduce e-waste and lessen New Zealand’s digital divide as they work with Recycle A Device (RAD). This non-profit initiative provides refurbished laptops for rangatahi (young people) who otherwise wouldn't have access to devices.
RAD receives donations of unwanted laptops refurbished by specially trained rangatahi each month. These refurbished laptops are then donated to community groups or school students who need them for employment, education, cultural expression, and broad social participation.
Foodstuffs North Island uses around 1,300 laptops across its support and distribution centres. The co-operative buys around 300 more annually to replace retired assets and has pledged to donate these old devices to RAD as they leave warranty.
Foodstuffs New Zealand Waste Minimisation Manager Emma Harding said it was a natural fit for Foodstuffs, which is 100 percent locally owned and operated, to partner with RAD as they both committed to supporting local communities to thrive.
“We love the idea of working with a New Zealand-based organisation to help reduce our e-waste and support the next generation of young people across the nation,” said Harding.
As part of its commitment towards increasing digital and technological literacy, RAD entrusted the local community members with diagnosing and repairing the devices sent.
One of these community groups can be found in Taumarunui, a small town in the central North Island.
“Taumarunui, like many of our rural communities, faces a trifecta of digital inequities, low access to devices and slow internet, which has led to a lack of digital skills,” Bronwyn Scott, Programme Manager at RAD, explained.
Scott continued that during 2022 RAD partnered with a local Māori trust to employ a part-time RAD coordinator, who met Taumarunui High School students weekly to refurbish the laptops.
“They were all super engaged and loving it.”
As part of the co-operative's commitment towards achieving zero waste to landfill by 2035, Foodstuffs North Island has donated 41 laptops to RA, with more planned for later this year as more devices are retired.
“It’s imperative that we show our communities that we’re committed to supporting them in any way we can. So, by working with RAD, it’s just another way we can be a part of their success, helping them access digital technology and encouraging valuable skills,” Harding concluded.
