Earth Month in Action — April 2026
April was Earth Month, and AZ StRUT showed up across Arizona in a big way. From a record-breaking e-waste collection to a new campus drop-off partnership, a digital lab ribbon cutting, hands-on community events, and a new volunteer making her mark — here’s everything that happened this month.
What Happens to Your Old Tech? 🤔
On Earth Day, our Executive Director Jared Bodine stopped by 12 News to talk about something most of us have: a drawer (or box…or closet) full of old tech. You know the one — phones, laptops, mystery cords you swear you’ll use again. The reality? You probably won’t. But that doesn’t mean it’s trash.
At AZ StRUT, donated devices are securely wiped, then passed to students for hands-on repair and tech training. From there, refurbished devices are redistributed to nonprofits and community members who need them most. Anything that can’t be reused is responsibly recycled — keeping harmful materials out of landfills and valuable resources in use.
Quick tips:
- Don’t toss old tech in the trash
- Wipe personal data before recycling
- Cords and chargers can often be reused
- Use trusted recycling or donation programs (like AZ StRUT!)
E-Waste Drop-Off Made Easy ♻️
We’re excited to partner with Mesa Community College to launch a brand new e-waste collection bin — now available right inside the MCC Library!
That means students, staff, and community members have a simple, accessible way to drop off old tech, from laptops and phones to cords, chargers, and more.
It’s a small drop-off with a big impact — and a huge step toward making sustainable tech disposal part of everyday campus life.
Community in Action: Earth Month Impact! 👏
Two standout events this April brought neighbors, volunteers, and partners together to divert thousands of pounds of e-waste from Arizona landfills.
Desert Garden Church of Christ
Desert Garden Church of Christ in Sun City West partnered with AZ StRUT for their 4th annual e-waste collection — and showed up in a big way. Over two days, nearly 400 community members helped collect 14,067 pounds of e-waste.
Huge thanks to John Riddle, the DGCC team, and every volunteer who made it happen.
Chandler Mall Earth Day Event
Our Earth Day event at Chandler Fashion Center brought the energy! Volunteers helped collect 5,629 pounds of e-waste in a single day. The action continued with a Refurbish-a-Thon that brought 67 Chromebooks back to life, while over 1,000 pounds of devices were dismantled for responsible recycling.
Fueling a Green Future with NXP 🤝
A big thank you to NXP for showing up in many ways this Earth Month!
From volunteering at the Chandler Mall Earth Day event to awarding AZ StRUT a $3,000 grant, their support is helping strengthen our circular economy efforts and expand Techie Labs for students across Arizona. That means more devices diverted from landfills — and more hands-on learning opportunities in the classroom.
Volunteer Feature: Meet Jessica! 👋
Jessica
Jessica joined AZ StRUT in February looking for a more hands-on way to learn, and found an opportunity to complete her internship while gaining real-world experience. Since then, she’s been building skills with hardware, operating systems, and device repair — growing confidence both in her studies and her future career. What started as a learning opportunity quickly became something more.
“My favorite part of this experience has been the people. I came in with no tech experience, and the staff has been incredibly supportive and encouraging. They’ve created a space where it’s okay not to know everything and where learning is constant.”
As her internship comes to a close, Jessica plans to continue volunteering — growing her skills while staying part of a community that makes a real impact. Thanks for all you do, Jessica!
A hands-on learner turned community contributor — Jessica is a perfect example of what makes the AZ StRUT volunteer experience so special.
Where Your Tech Goes Next 👀
AZ StRUT was out and about across Arizona this month, putting refurbished technology into the hands of people and places ready to use it.
Distribution of the Month: Walter Hive Digital Lab 💻
Our team had the awesome opportunity to attend the ribbon cutting for the new Walter Hive Digital Lab in Scottsdale! The Scottsdale Leadership Class 40 reached out to us for equipment, and we were able to provide 11 workstations for the new space.
Seeing those devices land in a fully built lab like this is always a meaningful reminder of why this work matters.
Techie Experience: St. Vincent de Paul 🔧
We recently hosted our first-ever Hardware Techie Experience with the team at St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix — and it was a fun one!
Participants jumped into hands-on learning, exploring computer hardware, tools, and building real tech confidence in a supportive, collaborative environment. It was exciting to see skills grow and curiosity take off throughout the session.
Close Out Earth Month with Impact 🌱
Every device collected, refurbished, and redistributed is part of a larger cycle made possible by community support. Financial contributions help us expand that work by powering Techie Labs, supporting student training, and keeping more technology in use and out of landfills. If you’re looking for a way to turn Earth Month into lasting impact, consider making a gift to support AZ StRUT’s mission.
AZ StRUT’s mission is to improve the competitiveness of Arizona’s technical workforce by supporting applied learning through scholarships and donated technology, providing refurbished equipment to schools and nonprofits, promoting diversity in technical education, and ensuring responsible electronic recycling.
