A Word

ERA was founded by an immigrant to Canada whose own life was changed by a single donated computer. The full story, told in his own words, is shared on the A Word From Our Founder page. His personal experience with both the value of technology and the waste he saw at a landfill became the foundation of the organization.

The founder’s journey began after his family emigrated from Croatia in 1996 with very little. A church group gave him a computer, and that single gift opened the door to learning computer science and excelling at school. The experience showed him firsthand how much a donated device can mean to someone who cannot afford one.

On a visit to the landfill, the founder noticed large numbers of computers being thrown away while still having plenty of useful life left in them. Knowing from experience how valuable that technology could be, he was struck that working machines were being discarded. He began collecting and repairing these computers, and what started as a hobby grew into the organization.

ERA has been reducing electronic waste since 2004, growing from one person’s hobby into a Canada wide non profit. Over the years it has expanded to depots and pickup services in major cities from coast to coast. The founder’s message reflects on the milestones the organization has reached since those early days.

The founder built ERA to address two connected problems, the growing waste created by discarded electronics and the digital divide that leaves some families without access to technology. By refurbishing working equipment and donating it, the organization tackles both at once. That dual purpose remains central to everything ERA does today.

Having received a computer that changed his own life, the founder understands that a refurbished device can be far more than scrap material to the right person. Reusing equipment keeps it out of landfill while passing its value on to a family, student, or charity that needs it. This belief in reuse over destruction is the philosophy that distinguishes ERA from typical recyclers.

The founder’s experience is woven into ERA’s focus on donation and community impact rather than simply breaking devices down for parts. Every refurbished computer that reaches a charity echoes the gift that once helped him. That origin keeps the organization grounded in the human side of technology reuse.

Yes, the organization grew out of the founder collecting discarded computers and repairing them on his own. When he realized how many people genuinely needed and wanted those refurbished machines, the effort expanded into a structured program. That grassroots beginning is a point of pride reflected in his message.

There are many ways to support ERA’s mission, from donating old electronics and booking a pickup to volunteering or hosting a fundraiser. Each contribution helps continue the work that began with a single donated computer. The website outlines the different ways individuals, businesses, and community groups can get involved.

The complete story, written in the founder’s own words, is available on the A Word From Our Founder page of the ERA website. It covers his early experience as a newcomer to Canada, the moment at the landfill that sparked the idea, and his reflections on the organization’s growth. It offers helpful context on why ERA approaches electronic recycling the way it does.