RJ Infusino

Every year, millions of tons of electronic waste (“e-waste”) are discarded around the world, and this is one of the fastest-growing waste streams on the planet. In 2022 alone, the world generated a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste, and that number is projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030 if nothing changes. E-waste isn’t just “old gadgets.” It contains hundreds of toxic chemical substances—including lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants—that can leach into soil, groundwater, and air when devices are dumped or improperly dismantled. This pollution threatens ecosystems and human health, contributing to contaminated water supplies, toxic air emissions, and serious chemical exposures that can harm the nervous system, lungs, and reproductive systems. Despite the severity of the problem, only about 20–22 % of global e-waste is properly collected and recycled in an environmentally sound way. That means nearly 80 % ends up in landfills, informal burning sites, or pollutes communities, often in countries with weaker environmental protections. To put this in perspective: while e-waste is a rapidly increasing source of toxic pollution, the vast majority is not being managed correctly, meaning valuable materials are lost and hazardous waste accumulates—making e-waste one of the most urgent sustainability challenges of our time. My name is RJ, and this project started the moment I stumbled across a video of someone turning an old, discarded laptop into a fully functional portable monitor. That single moment completely shifted how I looked at outdated technology—not as waste, but as untapped potential. I’ve always been a hands-on tech tinkerer, working with a variety of tools and teaching myself the fundamentals through curiosity, trial and error, and problem-solving. What began as casual experimentation quickly revealed something bigger: the opportunity to reclaim old tech, keep it out of landfills, and transform it into useful, modern products. Through this project, I’m committed not only to building things like portable monitors, Bluetooth keyboards, and external hard drives, but also to continually learning and expanding what’s possible when we rethink how we treat “obsolete” electronics. Right now, I work two jobs, and while I’ve been pouring my free time, tools, and energy into this effort, truly scaling something that can make a real environmental impact requires support. That support can come in the form of financial donations or even donating unused or broken laptops that would otherwise sit in a drawer or be thrown away. As a thank-you, anyone who donates a laptop will receive a discount on a product I build from reclaimed tech. Every contribution—whether money, hardware, or simply sharing this project—helps turn discarded electronics into something meaningful, sustainable, and genuinely impactful.