Goodwill Trains Workers for Recycling Industry

We’ve all seen the numbers regarding the growing volumes of electronic waste. Technology seems to catch up to us faster than we can unpack and wall-mount our new flat screen televisions. That, combined with increased e-waste legislation nationwide, has led to a high demand for skilled employees in the electronics recycling industry.

Realizing the need for trained individuals in this field, Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island began a unique program in July to prepare workers for entry into the e-waste recycling industry. The 10-week program trains displaced workers in safe and proper disassembling of electronics and proper separation of electronic components into their respective materials.

Goodwill has nationwide programs to train individuals in recycling e-waste. Photo: Amanda Wills, Earth911.com

“I’ve seen it as a very positive train in,” Christine Yankee, vice president of Program Services for Goodwill, told Earth911.com.

Yankee credits the program with providing a good employment niche for the individuals involved in the training. She indicated that Goodwill programs nationwide offer similar e-waste programs.

The students are largely referred to Goodwill by the Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services. Goodwill in Providence hopes to expand its training to include more advanced e-waste instruction for job seekers in the electronics recycling industry.

Office Recycling Solutions partnered with Goodwill to provide the raw materials and instruction for the program, a partnership Yankee described as being very successful.

Rhode Island is one of 19 states with legislation mandating e-waste recycling. Signed into law June 27, 2008, the legislation establishes a manufacturer-financed system for the collection, transportation, reuse and recycling of covered electronics products.

With green jobs expected to rise, experts believe jobs in the recycling industry will be in high demand. The United Nations Environment Programme estimates recycling jobs in the U.S. at currently more than one million, with new laws and regulations related to e-waste disposal expected to increase that number.

Fast Company’s Ten Best Green Jobs for the Next Decade predicts jobs in the recycling industry to grow significantly, indicating Goodwill’s training program to be on path with future employment trends.