Blue Star Recyclers

What Blue Star Recyclers does

Blue Star Recyclers is a 501c3 nonprofit social enterprise founded in 2009 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The organization recycles and refurbishes consumer and commercial electronics — including computers, laptops, TVs, monitors, printers, phones, small appliances, and gaming devices — for business, government, nonprofit, and residential customers, with services spanning drop-off, on-site pickup, secure data destruction (shredding and wiping with certificates of destruction), and event hosting. Approximately 80% of the workforce consists of people with autism and other disabilities, a model the organization credits with achieving the lowest turnover, absenteeism, and lost-time accident rates in the electronics recycling industry alongside over 98% work-task engagement.

The company operates four Colorado locations (with the Colorado Springs residential facility permanently closed on August 31, 2023, while business services in that market continue) and holds e-Stewards, NAID AAA, and ISO 14001:2004 certifications that position it for enterprise and government work. Two ancillary programs extend the model: a Refurbishment and Resale program that sells refurbished computers to community members with limited technology access, and the Counties of Inclusion Employer Training Program, which indirectly created more than 200 jobs in 2024 by training other employers on inclusive hiring.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-unit and per-service recycling fees, supplemented by hardware resale and philanthropic donations (including a 2024 Colorado Gives campaign targeting $115,000, of which $68,690 was raised). The organization states it is over 90% self-sustainable through recycling fees alone and accepts no government funding. Distribution is regional and direct, with a sales-led motion targeting B2B/B2G/B2N clients (handled via [email protected] and a dedicated Business Development Manager), a separate consumer drop-off/pickup motion, and partnerships with organizations such as Goodwill for internship pipelines.

Name

Blue Star Recyclers

Legal name

Blue Star Recyclers

Website

https://bluestarrecyclers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Blue Star Recyclers is a 501c3 social enterprise in Colorado that recycles, refurbishes, and securely destroys electronics for businesses, government, nonprofits, and residential customers, employing a workforce that is 80% people with autism and other disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronics Recycling Services

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer Electronics Recycling (TVs, AV, Small Electronics) (BPALAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electronics Recycling & Material Recovery (Dismantling/Separation) (BPALAIAE), E-Waste (WEEE) Collection, Refurbishment & Recycling (IMAIAFAH), Consumer E-waste Collection & Take-Back Programs (EUAIAIAA), Electronics Dismantling & Pre-processing (Depollution, Sorting, Shredding) (EUAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Electronics recycling services
• IT asset disposition
• Secure data destruction
• E-waste recycling
• Disability employment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Electronics Recycling Fees: Fees charged to residential and business customers for electronics recycling services. Fees cover operational costs, data security, environmental compliance, and worker wages. Some fees apply for residential drop-offs; business services include pickup and documentation.
2. Refurbishment and Resale: Refurbishing electronics (particularly computers) and reselling to community members with limited technology access. This creates stable revenue streams as e-recycling industry evolves.
3. Data Destruction Services: Secure data device shredding or wiping with certificates of destruction provided. This service adds value to electronics recycling for businesses and government clients concerned about data security.
4. Donations: 501c3 nonprofit accepts donations through Colorado Gives and direct contact. 2024 Colorado Gives campaign raised $68,690 toward $115,000 goal for expansion initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Blue Star Recyclers provides electronics recycling, secure data destruction, and pickup services for residential, business, government, and nonprofit customers. As a 501c3 social enterprise, it employs adults with autism and other disabilities to perform the recycling, refurbishment, and data destruction work. Revenue from recycling fees, refurbished electronics sales, and donations sustains over 90% self-sustainability and funds real wages for its disabled workforce.

Product overview

Blue Star Recyclers is a 501c3 social enterprise nonprofit operating as a single unified service offering: electronic waste recycling with a dual focus on environmental sustainability and job creation for people with disabilities. The core portfolio consists of residential and business electronics recycling services, supported by data security destruction, pickup logistics, and event hosting capabilities. Two ancillary programs—Refurbishment and Resale and the Counties of Inclusion Employer Training—extend the model into secondary revenue generation and workforce development consulting. The company was founded in 2009 and maintains operations in Denver, Colorado.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Electronics Recycling Drop-off and scheduled pickup electronics recycling service for individual consumers, accepting computers, laptops, TVs, monitors, printers, stereos, phones, microwaves, vacuums, fax machines, hair dryers, and gaming devices at the Denver facility, with some fees applying.
• Business Electronics Recycling Comprehensive electronics recycling solution for businesses, governments, and nonprofits, including secure data device shredding or wiping, pickup services, and documentation/certification of services.
• Secure Data Destruction Services NAID AAA audited shredding or wiping of hard drives and other data devices with certificates of destruction provided to clients for compliance.
• Business Pickup Services On-site pickup services for business, government, and nonprofit clients to collect electronics for recycling, scheduled via sales team.
• Recycling Event Hosting Event coordination services enabling companies, nonprofits, and government groups to host small- to large-scale or drop-box recycling events for employees, clients, or community members.
• Refurbishment and Resale Program Refurbishes electronics and makes them available for purchase to community members with limited technology access, including low-income families and nonprofits.
• Counties of Inclusion Employer Training Program Workforce development initiative that empowers businesses to create more inclusive employment opportunities and stronger communities through training, indirectly creating 200+ jobs in 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% self-sustainability achieved through recycling fees
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• e-StewardscoreStrategic or Co-development Partnere-Stewards Certification is a key credential for Blue Star Recyclers, demonstrating they meet the highest environmental standards in the electronics recycling industry. Certification by Orion Registrar validates environmental compliance.
• NAID AAA CertificationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAID AAA Certification validates data security handling processes through third-party audits. This certification is critical for Blue Star's business customers concerned about data destruction compliance.
• ISO 14001:2004 CertificationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISO 14001:2004 certification for environmental management systems, demonstrating Blue Star's commitment to managing environmental responsibilities systematically.
• Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEAF published a case study about leveraging Blue Star's employment model to expand to new locations. The case describes how the model will be extended through the e-Stewards Advance+ program with support from MEAF and the May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust.
• GoodwillcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGoodwill provides internship pipeline for potential employees. Darius Hudson joined Blue Star after a 3-month internship through Goodwill's workforce development program.
• Colorado Environmental Leadership ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Leader member of Colorado Environmental Leadership Program, demonstrating commitment to environmental leadership beyond compliance.
• Colorado Association for Recycling (CAFR)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProud member of CAFR, the statewide organization promoting recycling and sustainable materials management in Colorado.
• Better Business Bureau of Southern ColoradocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccredited member with A+ Rating, demonstrating commitment to ethical business practices and customer satisfaction.
• Social Enterprise AllianceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProud member of Social Enterprise Alliance, the national organization supporting social enterprises.
• Colorado Springs Business AllianceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProud member of the regional business alliance supporting economic development in Colorado Springs.
• Colorado Technology AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProud member of the Colorado Technology Association, connecting technology companies and professionals in the state.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Republic Services: National solid waste and recycling company with growing e-waste and specialty recycling offerings. A broad incumbent that competes for the same business and government recycling contracts as Blue Star.
• Waste Management, Inc. Largest U.S. waste services company that has expanded into electronics recycling and ITAD as part of its broader environmental services portfolio. Represents a large incumbent that could encroach on Blue Star's market with scale advantages.

Direct peers

• ERI (Electronic Recyclers International): One of the largest e-waste recyclers in the U.S., operating multiple certified ITAD facilities. Directly comparable to Blue Star as a customer-facing electronics recycler with NAID AAA and e-Stewards-like certifications, though at national scale.
• All Green Electronics Recycling: National e-waste recycler with certified data destruction, pickup services, and event hosting for enterprise clients. Operates as a direct competitor in the same electronics recycling and ITAD category Blue Star serves.
• HOBI International: ITAD and electronics recycling company offering data destruction, asset recovery, and recycling services to enterprise clients. Closely matches Blue Star's business, government, and nonprofit customer mix and core ITAD service stack.
• CompuCycle: Texas-based R2-certified electronics recycling and ITAD provider offering secure data destruction and refurbishment/resale. Overlaps directly with Blue Star's residential and business e-waste recycling plus data destruction services.
• Goodwill Industries International: Operates electronics recycling programs and refurbishment/resale of used electronics as a social enterprise employing people with barriers to employment. Highly comparable to Blue Star's dual mission and community-led model, though at a much larger scale.
• GreenCitizen: Certified e-waste recycling company serving both businesses and consumers with pickup, drop-off, and certified data destruction. Comparable customer segments and service mix to Blue Star.
• Cascade Asset Management: ITAD company providing certified electronics recycling, data sanitization, and asset recovery to enterprise and government clients. Closely aligned with Blue Star's business and government ITAD focus.
• Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction: Midwest-based e-waste recycler and ITAD provider with NAID AAA and R2 certifications, secure data destruction, and pickup services. Direct comparable to Blue Star's certified recycling and data destruction offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blustarrecycles
• Facebookfacebook.com/bluestarrecyclers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blue-star-recyclers

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blue Star Recyclers