Tech Dump
Responsible electronics recycling with on-the-job training
When I walk into the Tech Dump warehouse, I’m greeted by a sea of bins. Peer into any one of these bins and you’ll find countless colors, shapes, and glimmers of metal. There’s beauty in the breakdown of these items – not just because of the items, but because this environment is alive with opportunity and life change. Tech Dump is a nonprofit that provides job training and practical experience for adults facing barriers to employment. Employees disassemble unwanted electronics and divide them into elements that can be recycled.
Every time I enter that warehouse I am challenged to see not what is broken down, but what is being re-made; the connection between abandoned electronics and adults looking for a fresh start is not lost on me. My partnership with Tech Dump has encouraged me to keep looking for similar opportunities where I can make an impact by creating images.
“Despite the fact that we deal with old, dusty electronics, Monika captured the beauty in the work that we do here: transforming unwanted gadgets into materials for recycling and providing adults with barriers to employment the opportunity at a better future. And she made the whole process very easy for our camera-shy staff.”
