Recycle A Device

What Recycle A Device does

Recycle A Device (RAD) is a New Zealand not-for-profit programme established in 2020 and operated under parent charity Digital Future Aotearoa. RAD addresses the digital divide affecting approximately 20% of New Zealanders (around one million people) by collecting end-of-life corporate and individual laptops (less than ten years old), refurbishing them through a community-based training model, and gifting them to rangatahi (young people) and whānau in need. The programme combines three intertwined missions: device access, STEM skills development for secondary students, and e-waste diversion from landfills.

The core operating model is the RAD Club — school and community-based clubs where rangatahi learn diagnostic and refurbishment skills under trainers from Remojo Tech (founded by the original Aotea College students Owyn and Hadi). Schools retain half of the refurbished devices for their local community while the remainder is distributed nationally via community partners. Enterprise-grade data sanitisation is performed by IT asset management partner Entelar using BlackBelt wipe technology before any device enters the refurbishment pipeline. Devices costing approximately $186 per unit to process flow through the programme at no cost to recipients.

RAD is funded entirely by donations, grants, and in-kind support — it charges no fees to donors or recipients. Revenue streams include individual micro-donations via One Percent Collective, corporate laptop and monetary donations (Kiwibank, Foodstuffs North Island, Chorus, Transpower, Todd Corporation, Aurecon), government grants (NZTE, Ministry of Education, Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Department of Internal Affairs, Auckland Council, Christchurch City Council), and philanthropic trusts (Pam Fergusson Charitable Trust, Foundation North, Rata Foundation, InternetNZ). The organisation has won multiple awards between 2021 and 2024 including NZ Hi-Tech Awards (Best Hi-Tech Solution for Public Good, Best Contribution to NZ Tech Sector) and the IDC Future Enterprise Award for Best in Future of Trust. RAD operates with a small team of approximately 6 staff including 4 key members: General Manager Kris Dempster-Rivett, Lead Trainer Riley Pugh, Programme Manager Kelsey Hallahan, and Community & School Liaison Eva Riddell.

Name

Recycle A Device

Legal name

Recycle A Device

Website

https://recycleadevice.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Recycle A Device is a New Zealand not-for-profit that refurbishes donated laptops and gifts them to rangatahi (young people) in need, while training students in STEM refurbishment skills through school-based RAD Clubs under parent charity Digital Future Aotearoa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Inclusion and E-waste Refurbishment Services

NAICS

Waste Management and Remediation Services (562)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Repair Services (7600)

akta.pro primary industry

Electronics Refurbishment, Repair & Reuse (Remarketing/Resale) (BPALAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

E-Waste (WEEE) Collection, Refurbishment & Recycling (IMAIAFAH), Consumer E-waste Collection & Take-Back Programs (EUAIAIAA)

Keywords

• Laptop refurbishment
• Digital equity programmes
• E-waste diversion
• STEM education training
• Device donation programme

Headquarters

HQ city

Snells Beach

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: RAD is a not-for-profit initiative that operates entirely on donations, grants, and support from charitable organisations. The organisation does not sell anything and does not charge donors or recipients. Revenue comes from individual monetary donations via One Percent Collective, corporate donations, and grants from trusts and foundations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Recycle A Device (RAD) is a not-for-profit initiative that collects donated laptops (less than 10 years old with chargers) from individuals and organisations, refurbishes them through school and community RAD Clubs where rangatahi learn technical skills, and gifts the refurbished devices free of charge to individuals, families, and community groups across Aotearoa New Zealand to bridge the digital divide. The organisation also runs training programmes through RAD Clubs that allow young people to earn STEM skills (including NCEA-aligned outcomes), and offers monetary donation channels to fund operations.

Product overview

Recycle A Device (RAD) is a single integrated not-for-profit programme consisting of four interconnected offerings: the core RAD Programme (laptop collection, refurbishment, and gifting), RAD Club (school/community training in laptop refurbishment), the Laptop Donation Programme, and the Money Donation Programme. The RAD Club trains rangatahi in tech skills while refurbishing devices that are then gifted to communities, creating a cyclical model of digital equity, STEM education, and environmental sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recycle A Device (RAD) Programme A not-for-profit laptop refurbishment and donation programme that collects used laptops (less than 10 years old with chargers), trains rangatahi (young people) in tech skills through RAD Clubs, and gifts refurbished devices to communities in need to bridge the digital divide.
• RAD Club School and community-based clubs where rangatahi learn to diagnose and refurbish laptops, gaining STEM skills and contributing to their local communities. Schools keep half of refurbished devices for their own community while RAD helps distribute the rest nationally.
• Laptop Donation Programme Accepts donated laptops (less than ten years old with chargers) from individuals and organisations, providing data-secure processing (via partner Entelar's BlackBelt wipe) and refurbishment through trained rangatahi.
• Money Donation Programme Accepts monetary donations to support RAD's operations, laptop refurbishment costs, and STEM education programmes. Donations can be made through One Percent Collective or directly to RAD.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cost per refurbished laptop: $186 vs $375+ for new Chromebook
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Digital Future AotearoacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Parent charity and founding partner of RAD. Digital Future Aotearoa (DFA) established RAD as a programme and provides overall governance, strategic direction, and administrative support. RAD operates as a programme under the DFA umbrella.
• Spark FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Founding partner providing funding and support. Spark Foundation shares RAD's vision for digital equity and sustainability, contributing resources to help scale the programme nationwide.
• Remojo TechcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Founded by original Aotea College students Owyn and Hadi who started the laptop refurbishment initiative. Remojo Tech provides technical training to schools and community groups, and plays operational and governance roles in RAD.
• The Southern InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Founding partner supporting RAD's kaupapa. The Southern Initiative focuses on social and economic development in South Auckland and supports RAD's expansion and community engagement efforts.
• KiwibankflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Major corporate donor and partner. Kiwibank donates retired laptops from their refresh programme and shares RAD's values of repurposing and upskilling rangatahi. Has donated 658 laptops, engaging 92 rangatahi at 9 schools and community groups.
• Foodstuffs North IslandflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Corporate partner donating laptops from their distribution centres. The 100% NZ-owned co-operative behind New World, PAK'nSAVE and Four Square has donated 224 laptops (209 refurbished), engaging 98 rangatahi at 7 schools.
• New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Government agency and early donor of devices. NZTE provides laptop donations and networking support, donating 326 laptops and engaging 75 akonga at 5 schools and kura.
• Sustainability TrustflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Community partner in Wellington accepting device donations. Has donated 321 laptops over 3 years, with 14 school and community clubs learning refurbishment skills while diverting e-waste.
• ChoruscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Telecommunications infrastructure company supporting RAD's kaupapa. Chorus shares RAD's commitment to closing the digital divide and reducing environmental impact through laptop refurbishment.
• EntelarcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020IT asset management partner performing enterprise-grade data sanitisation using BlackBelt wipe technology. Ensures all donated devices are securely wiped before refurbishment and distribution.
• One Percent CollectivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Funding partner enabling individual donors to support RAD through recurring micro-donations. Allows Kiwis to donate small amounts regularly to trusted charities including Digital Future Aotearoa/RAD.
• TranspowerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Corporate supporter of RAD's mission. Transpower supports digital equity initiatives that help bridge the digital divide in New Zealand communities.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Cloud infrastructure provider supporting RAD's digital operations and technology infrastructure needs.
• Todd CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Corporate supporter contributing to RAD's funding and resource needs for programme expansion.
• AureconminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Engineering and infrastructure consultancy supporting RAD's kaupapa and digital equity mission.
• EchoTechminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Technology company supporting RAD's sustainability and e-waste diversion efforts in Auckland and Wellington regions.
• Ministry for Pacific PeoplesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Government ministry supporting RAD's work with Pacific communities experiencing digital inequity.
• Ministry of EducationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Government ministry supporting RAD's educational programmes and school-based RAD Clubs.
• Christchurch City CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Local government supporter providing funding and resources for RAD's operations in Christchurch.
• Auckland CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Local government supporter funding RAD's activities and community engagement in Auckland region.
• Department of Internal AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Government department supporting RAD's community and digital equity initiatives.
• Christchurch NZminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Regional economic development agency supporting RAD's work in the Christchurch area.
• Tagata Moana TrustminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Community organisation partnered with DFA/RAD to support digital equity initiatives for Pacific communities.
• DECA (Digital Equity Coalition Aotearoa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Coalition focused on digital equity in Aotearoa. RAD's General Manager Kris Dempster-Rivett serves as an active Steward of DECA.
• TechMateminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Technology organisation supporting RAD's community digital equity programmes and initiatives.
• Tonui CollabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Collaborative partner supporting RAD's initiatives and community engagement efforts.
• TUANZminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Telecommunications Users Association of NZ supporting RAD's digital equity and connectivity mission.
• InternetNZminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Internet governance organisation providing funding support to RAD's digital equity initiatives.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Human I-T: US non-profit that collects used computers, refurbishes them, and distributes them to underserved communities to bridge the digital divide. Operates a directly comparable refurbishment-and-gifting model with corporate donor pipelines and digital-skills training.
• Interconnection: Seattle-based non-profit that refurbishes donated computers and matches them to non-profits and low-income individuals. Operates the same donor-to-recipient refurbishment pipeline as RAD.
• Camara Education: Irish social enterprise that refurbishes donated computers and ships them to schools in developing regions, with embedded digital-literacy training. Directly comparable technology refurbishment + education mission.
• Close the Gap: International non-profit that collects second-hand computers, refurbishes them with trained technicians, and distributes them to digital inclusion programmes globally. Same circular-economy-plus-digital-equity thesis as RAD.
• The Restart Project: London-based charity running community-led electronics repair events and advocating for longer device lifecycles. Comparable community-led, skills-building approach to e-waste reduction, though more focused on repair than refurbishment-and-gifting.
• Computer Aid International: UK-registered charity that refurbishes donated computers and ships them to education and community projects in developing countries. Closely analogous to RAD's laptop refurbishment, corporate-donor sourcing, and not-for-profit gifting model.

Broad incumbents

• TechSoup Global: Global non-profit that facilitates technology donations and capacity-building for the civil-society sector. Operates at much larger scale and broader scope than RAD, but serves overlapping mission of channelling corporate tech to community organisations.

Regional players

• Computers in Homes (20/20 Trust): NZ programme providing refurbished computers, internet, and training to low-income families. The closest NZ-side peer targeting the same digital-divide population through device access and skills.
• 2020 Trust (UK): NZ digital equity organisation supporting digital inclusion, although more focused on connectivity and skills than device refurbishment. Most directly comparable NZ-based peer addressing the same digital divide.

Others

• Digital Future Aotearoa (parent charity): RAD's parent charity, focused on digital equity programmes for Aotearoa. Not a direct competitor but governs, funds, and provides the operational backbone under which RAD operates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RecycleADevice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/recycle-a-device
• Instagraminstagram.com/recycleadevice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Recycle A Device