What’s eSmart Recycling’s Why? Holistic Sustainability

Taking Small Steps for a Sustainable Future this Earth Day and Beyond

By ICIC | April 17, 2024

Since 1970, Earth Day has served as an annual reminder to mitigate humans’ impact on the planet. Technological advances designed to make life on Earth easier for its homo sapiens inhabitants have caused major disruptions to the natural cycles that are required to maintain a livable environment. The first Earth Day focused on educating the public on the harmful effects of fossil fuel combustion waste. 54 years later, a different type of waste has taken center stage.

“Earth Day is about holistic sustainability. It’s about taking care of the earth, people, communities, and those around you, including your team.”

Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, is the fastest-growing municipal waste stream in the world, increasing 3-times faster than the world’s population, according to the World Health Organization. It represents 2% of the waste in landfills but accounts for almost 80% of toxic and hazardous waste. Developed countries in the West are the largest producers of waste; the U.S. is among them. It is estimated that only 20% of the electronics produced in America are recycled. This is a staggering number, especially considering that around 300,000 computers are disposed of daily.

These statistics shocked Tony Selvaggio, an Inner City 100 Award winner, Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) alumnus, and CEO of eSmart Recycling. Selvaggio moved to Florida’s Tampa Bay Area from Venezuela in 2011 during the city’s growth period. With a background in scrap metal, he knew there was money to be made by salvaging parts from old computers. He launched Scrap On Spot LLC in 2014 to recycle metals and e-waste.

Bridging the Gap

As the company began collecting units from businesses, Selvaggio quickly saw that the devices were not scrap metal; they were working computers. Growing up in Venezuela, he learned to repair a computer again and again until it became obsolete. But America’s culture was different. Companies were throwing away computers every five years and he wasn’t sure what to do with them. Disposing of them did not feel right, so he saved them. In time, the answer came. “These companies over here were calling me to get rid of 2,000-5,000 computers that are perfectly working. Five minutes down the road, there’s a nonprofit that’s working with kids, that’s a beacon in the community, and they don’t have access to something as basic as computers,” he recalled.

“I started seeing things in Tampa that you only see in developing nations. There are gaps in our communities. A lot of basic needs are not being met–access to a computer and connectivity being one of them–and it shouldn’t be happening in the United States of America.”

Selvaggio realized that his company could do more for the community and the world than dispose of computer parts. “I started seeing things in Tampa that you only see in developing nations. There are gaps in our communities. A lot of basic needs are not being met–access to a computer and connectivity being one of them–and it shouldn’t be happening in the United States of America.”  Through trial and error, the company began testing models for distributing the computers they collected to local nonprofits. By 2016, the test efforts had led to a system that allows each computer pick-up to be deployed as refurbished computers to local and international communities. With the new model in place, the company changed its name, and eSmart Recycling was born.

Today, the company combines environmental sustainability and social impact metrics, resulting in a holistic approach to offsetting carbon emissions through recycling technology at a corporate and residential level. It is on a mission to ensure that every child and family in its local community has access to technology and education. By partnering with nonprofit organizations and businesses, eSmart Recycling participates in programs developed specifically to address the digital and literacy gaps and brings everyone together through a triple-bottom-line approach. Since the company’s inception, it has deployed nearly 3,000 devices that have helped more than 12,000 children and families.

The Heart of Success

Selvaggio’s ability to recognize and fill the gap paid off. The company has grown by 281.30% in the last four years. With this rate of growth, eSmart Recycling ranked 30th on the 2023 Inner City 100 Awards (IC100) list. The IC100 Awards recognize the fastest-growing businesses in under-resourced areas in the United States. 2023 marked the 25^th publication of the list, which has highlighted more than 1,000 businesses since its creation in 1999.

“If you have an issue, if there’s something that you feel needs to be solved, it is your responsibility to figure it out.”

At the heart of the company’s success are two principles: faith and problem-solving. Selvaggio’s belief in a higher power motivated him to pursue the vision for his company. This inspiration, combined with an obligation to find a holistic and sustainable solution to the problem of computer waste, led to the company’s achievements. Selvaggio explains, “If you have an issue, if there’s something that you feel needs to be solved, it is your responsibility to figure it out. If you adopt a mindset of prioritizing the solution of that problem above anything else, then you have a mechanism to create dialogue, bring communities together, and do the work in your own backyard without having to go anywhere else. Stay true, stay consistent, and don’t give up.”

As the U.S. prepares to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, Selvaggio advises small business owners to participate by sharing one small step that every member of their team can complete. “Earth Day is about holistic sustainability. It’s about taking care of the earth, people, communities, and those around you, including your team. A little goes a long way. Most people would love to help if they just knew how. Even a simple game or call to action to do one small thing, especially if it is measurable, can bring you together as a team and serve as a catalyst for change.”

About the IC100 Awards
Since 1999, ICIC has identified and honored the 100 fastest-growing businesses located in under-resourced communities through the prestigious Inner City 100 (IC100) awards. Throughout this period, ICIC has had the privilege of learning about and highlighting more than 1,000 remarkable business leaders and companies from across the United States. These firms have proven to be catalysts for job growth and promoters of a thriving, inclusive economy, even amidst challenging circumstances. Furthermore, they have actively contributed to the enhancement of their communities by generously donating their time and resources to local organizations and charitable causes.

Learn more about the IC100 Awards and eligibility criteria for this year’s list at icic.org/ic100. Don’t miss the chance to apply or nominate an entrepreneur for this prestigious recognition and join a community of changemakers!