Power Up the Planet

This month, we are excited to share a non-profit organization that is near and dear to our hearts. Power Up the Planet (PUP) is an initiative started by our very own Derrick Meyer, with the goal of reducing e-waste, while helping the community. 

The beginnings of Power Up the Planet started in a most unassuming way. While at a client’s place of business, Derrick witnessed staff throwing old computer equipment into a dumpster. He called out to the staff and asked them to stop and offered to recycle the devices for them. When he was asked how much it was going to cost the company for him to provide this service, knowing that this was likely going to determine whether he would be allowed to perform the task, he simply replied “nothing!” 

This and other situations like it continued over the following months. Derrick would pull hard drives, destroy them, and recycle the remaining materials.  

One day, one of our non-profit clients called. They had a laptop fail and asked if he had any old computers that he would be willing to sell as they only had fifty dollars in the budget.  

“I said I would see what I could come up with. I went into my garage (as I hadn’t made a run to the recycle depot that week) and began pulling parts. I was able to build a computer, which included a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.  When I returned to the non-profit, they were grateful and attempted to pay. I said that I couldn’t possibly accept payment as the materials were technically garbage anyway.  Word spread; demand increased, as did donations. We started receiving donations from people that were not clients.” 

Derrick Meyer

The idea of Power up the Planet was born and remains strong today. 

PUP is a two-pronged initiative. Its recycling program reduces e-waste and its negative impact on the environment, while its reuse and refurbishing efforts give select electronic equipment a new lease on life.                                                        

E-waste refers to electronic products that have reached or are nearing the end of their useful life. Even though many of these goods can be reused, refurbished, or recycled, e-waste still represents a serious threat to our environment.  

According to CBC, “The Global E-waste Monitor 2020 report found the world dumped a record 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste — equivalent to the weight of 350 cruise ships the size of the Queen Mary 2, or enough to form a line 125 kilometres long. That’s an increase of 21 per cent in five years, the report said.”  

Landfills continue to be polluted with e-waste, and PUP is dedicated to doing its part to lower those numbers. 

PUP will take away most electronics, including:  

• mice  
• phones  
• printers  
• scanners  
• monitors  
• keyboards  
• mobile devices  
• computer towers  
• empty ink and toner cartridges  

We know many of you reading this post will have these items collecting dust in your basement, storage, or garage! So, rather than taking up space in and around your house, donate them to our amazing organization. Power up the Planet works with non-profits and charities to ensure that they and those they help receive the technology they need to operate. 

Examples of those they help include people suffering from PTSD, individuals receiving AISH, seniors, lower income students, those fleeing domestic violence and those unable to secure permanent housing to stay connected. 

Retro Gaming Auction & Marathon 

On September 30, 2022 Power Up the Planet is excited to be hosting a Retro Gaming Auction & Marathon to raise money in support of Little Warriors. We are currently looking for donations of gaming electronics for their upcoming online auction. If you have old console systems, games, controllers, gaming computers, or new systems that you’re willing to part with – PUP would love to have them! For more information about our auction please click here.  

You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay up to date! If you would like to sign up, sponsor, or have any other questions regarding the marathon or auction, [email protected]. 

Power Up the Planet is always looking for support! For donation, sponsorship, or volunteer opportunities, please contact them at 780-616-3120, or [email protected]. 

Thank you to PUP for helping make our planet a cleaner place! Remember, next time you aren’t sure about what to do with that outdated electronic, PUP will help find it a home.