Nextstep
NextStep Recycling is a Lane County, Oregon 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 that recycles over 2 million pounds of electronic waste annually, refurbishes and resells donated computers, and provides job skills training and device access to disadvantaged populations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersEugene, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Nextstep does
NextStep Recycling is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public community service organization founded in 1999 and headquartered in Eugene, Oregon. It operates exclusively in Lane County with a stated pickup service extending across Oregon, employing 33 full-time staff and drawing on a network of 10,000+ volunteers who have contributed over 280,000 hours of service. The organization implements a three-part mission: electronic waste recycling, technology and job skills training for individuals with barriers to employment, and refurbished computer distribution to low-income families and underfunded schools.
The organization's core technology and operations center on electronics intake, refurbishment, and secure data destruction. It accepts residential drop-offs free of charge and provides free pickup for businesses, schools, and nonprofits across Lane County and Oregon. Incoming devices are either refurbished (with memory/hardware/software upgrades) or routed through R2 and eSteward certified downstream recyclers; non-repairable items are processed by Oregon DEQ-approved recyclers. Data sanitization on hard drives larger than 2TB and SSDs larger than 256GB follows NIST Guidelines for Media Sanitization, with physical dismantling for smaller drives. NextStep holds Microsoft Registered Refurbisher status, which allows legally licensed software installation on donated computers.
Commercially, NextStep monetizes primarily through sales of refurbished electronics (laptops, desktops, Macs, televisions, monitors, chargers) at its physical ReUse Store and an eBay online storefront, plus tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. Residential and commercial recycling intake is provided at no charge. The organization supports job skills training for six primary beneficiary segments: youth graduating foster care, adults with disabilities, seniors, families leaving domestically violent relationships, migrant worker family members, and underfunded schools and nonprofits, with placement channeled through 14+ partner social service organizations including Goodwill Job Connections, Easter Seals, ARC Lane County, and Looking Glass. Total operational footprint exceeds 35,000 square feet across two Eugene locations.
Nextstep firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nextstep
- Legal name
- NextStep Recycling
- Website
- https://nextsteprecycling.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- NextStep Recycling is a Lane County, Oregon 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 that recycles over 2 million pounds of electronic waste annually, refurbishes and resells donated computers, and provides job skills training and device access to disadvantaged populations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nextstep industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electronic Waste Recycling and Refurbishment Services
- NAICS
- Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Waste Collection (56211), Solid Waste Collection (562111)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Consumer Electronics Recycling (TVs, AV, Small Electronics) (BPALAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- E-Waste (WEEE) Collection, Refurbishment & Recycling (IMAIAFAH), Recycling & E-Waste Collection/Hauling (HSAKALAJ), Donation, Reuse & Sustainability Returns Programs (TLAIAHAJ), Consumer E-waste Collection & Take-Back Programs (EUAIAIAA)
Keywords
Where Nextstep is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Eugene
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Nextstep business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Refurbished Electronics Sales: Sale of refurbished laptops, desktop PCs, Macs, televisions, cords, chargers and monitors at the ReUse Store and through eBay online storefront.
- Electronic Recycling Services: Free electronic recycling for residential drop-off and free pickup services for businesses, schools, and nonprofits. Revenue derived from material recovery and processing fees from certified recyclers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free Residential Recycling |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free Business/School/Nonprofit Pickup |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Tax-Deductible Donations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Nextstep product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NextStep Recycling accepts donations of computers and other electronic devices, refurbishes usable equipment (upgrading memory, hardware, and software) with NIST-compliant data sanitization, and resells refurbished laptops, desktops, Macs, monitors, and accessories through a physical ReUse Store and eBay storefront. Non-repairable electronics are recycled through Oregon DEQ approved, R2 and eSteward certified processors. The organization also operates a Donation Center for residential drop-off and provides free pickup services for businesses, schools, and nonprofits across Lane County and Oregon, supported by a job skills training program for underserved populations.
Product overview
NextStep Recycling operates as a nonprofit electronic waste recycling and refurbishment organization with a three-part mission combining environmental protection, community service, and workforce development. The core offering includes electronics recycling services (accepting and processing electronic waste through eSteward and R2 certified recyclers), computer refurbishment services (upgrading and restoring donated equipment with secure data destruction), and a ReUse Store (selling refurbished laptops, desktops, Macs, and electronics in-store and via eBay). Supporting services include free business pickup for electronics donations, a Donation Center as the primary intake and training facility, job skills training programs for individuals with employment barriers, and refurbished computer distribution to low-income community members. All operations are concentrated in Lane County, Oregon, with two physical locations serving as donation center, training facility, and retail store.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Electronics Recycling Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Recycles over 2 million pounds of electronic waste each year
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Nextstep
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Nextstep technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Nextstep partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Community Supported ShelterscorePlacement partnership providing employment opportunities and support for individuals experiencing housing instability
- Adventure Children's MuseumminorCommunity partnership supporting children's education through technology access
- Oregon Black Education FoundationcorePlacement partnership supporting Black education and employment initiatives
- Veteran's LegacycorePlacement partnership providing technology and job training for veterans
- Easter SealscoreNational disability services organization providing employment placement for adults with disabilities
- Looking GlasscoreYouth services organization providing employment support for young people
- 15th NightminorCommunity initiative addressing youth homelessness with employment support
- Goodwill Job ConnectionscoreEmployment services providing job training and placement connections
- KindTree Productions Autism Rocks!coreAutism organization that refers requests for systems to NextStep Recycling for individuals with autism and their families
- Laurel Hill CentercoreMental health organization helping people with psychiatric disabilities acquire skills for community living and employment
- Bridgeway HousecoreServes children with autism and related disabilities while educating and supporting their families
- ARC Lane CountycoreAdvocacy organization for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families
- Oregon Supported Living ProgramcoreNonprofit supporting adults with developmental disabilities to realize their desires, wishes, and dreams
- Direction ServicesminorFamily support, information services, counseling, and special education dispute resolution
- Reuse AllianceminorNational organization building a community of individuals and organizations revolutionizing waste reduction
- Oregon E-CyclescoreOregon's free electronics recycling program - state-mandated program for electronic waste management
- Association of Oregon RecyclersminorNot-for-profit coalition committed to waste prevention and recycling in Oregon
- Eugene Area Chamber of CommerceminorLocal business membership organization with 1,200 members committed to Eugene business community
- Springfield Area Chamber of CommerceminorChamber of Commerce promoting healthy and prosperous Springfield community
- National Cristina FoundationminorNonprofit promoting technology reuse for people with disabilities, students at risk, and economically disadvantaged persons
- Emerald Valley Development ProfessionalsminorProfessional association advancing public interest in fund development and professional growth
- eStewardcoreCertified recycler ensuring electronic waste does not pollute other communities - used for items that cannot be refurbished
- R2 Certified RecyclerscoreR2 certified recycling partners ensuring responsible e-waste processing for materials going to recycling
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Nextstep competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PCs for People: National nonprofit that refurbishes and distributes computers to low-income individuals while offering digital literacy training — directly comparable mission, model, and target populations to NextStep.
- Homeboy Electronics Recycling: Los Angeles-based nonprofit that runs an e-waste recycling operation alongside workforce reintegration programs for underserved populations, sharing NextStep's combined recycling-plus-social-mission structure.
- Free Geek: Portland, Oregon-based nonprofit operating an electronics reuse and recycling program with a similar job-training and refurbished computer resale model, making it the closest operational analog to NextStep.
- Cascade Asset Management: ITAD and electronics recycling company headquartered in Oregon offering certified data destruction and e-waste processing — a regional commercial peer sharing the same service line and regulatory framework.
Emerging players
- Ecology Center (Berkeley) / Berkeley Recycling: Community-based nonprofit e-waste collection program in Northern California with a similar mission focus on reuse and diversion, though operating a smaller-scaled and more drop-off-oriented model.
Others
- Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI): Industry body that administers the R2 standard NextStep relies on; not a direct competitor but a critical ecosystem partner whose certification framework shapes NextStep's service eligibility.
Broad incumbents
- EcoATM: Nationwide kiosk-based electronics buyback and recycling network that competes for the same consumer electronics end-of-life stream as NextStep, though via automated retail rather than nonprofit donation.
- Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit operating electronics recycling and refurbished retail through Reuse/Recycle programs; comparable model and reuse-store retail format but operating at vastly larger scale across many geographies.
- Best Buy Recycling: National big-box retailer's consumer electronics recycling trade-in program; competes for the same residential e-waste stream as NextStep but with vastly larger collection footprint.
- Dell Reconnect: Partnership program between Dell and Goodwill that enables free consumer electronics drop-off at Goodwill locations nationwide — directly comparable consumer e-waste collection service but backed by a Fortune-500 manufacturer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Nextstep social profiles
Digital presenceNextstep compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Nextstep financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nextstep leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Nextstep funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nextstep M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nextstep
What does Nextstep do?
NextStep Recycling accepts donations of computers and other electronic devices, refurbishes usable equipment (upgrading memory, hardware, and software) with NIST-compliant data sanitization, and resells refurbished laptops, desktops, Macs, monitors, and accessories through a physical ReUse Store and eBay storefront. Non-repairable electronics are recycled through Oregon DEQ approved, R2 and eSteward certified processors. The organization also operates a Donation Center for residential drop-off and provides free pickup services for businesses, schools, and nonprofits across Lane County and Oregon, supported by a job skills training program for underserved populations.
Is Nextstep a public or private company?
Nextstep is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Nextstep founded?
Nextstep was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Nextstep based?
Nextstep is headquartered in Eugene, United States, in the North America region.
How does Nextstep make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Refurbished Electronics Sales are the primary driver. The others are electronic Recycling Services.
Who are Nextstep's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PCs for People, Homeboy Electronics Recycling, Free Geek and Cascade Asset Management. Ecology Center (Berkeley) / Berkeley Recycling is listed as an emerging player. Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are EcoATM, Goodwill Industries International, Best Buy Recycling and Dell Reconnect.
Does Nextstep have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nextstep.
What industry is Nextstep in?
Nextstep's product category is Electronic Waste Recycling and Refurbishment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPALAIAH, Consumer Electronics Recycling (TVs, AV, Small Electronics), with a secondary code of IMAIAFAH, E-Waste (WEEE) Collection, Refurbishment & Recycling. Its NAICS code is 562920 and its SIC code is 4953.