One Simple Question Could Help Save the Planet

Close the digital divide, rethink how we handle e-waste.

National nonprofit and social enterprise Human-I-T, is urging Americans to take their Earth Month intentions and actions one step further by asking a powerful, overlooked question in their workplaces: What happens to our old tech?

Companies can join a growing movement to protect the planet and expand access to opportunity—all at once. That’s the driving force behind “Ask the Question,” Human-I-T’s campaign aimed at confronting two of the most pressing global challenges of our time: the growing e-waste crisis and the persistent digital divide.

A 2024 United Nations report revealed that global e-waste surged to 62 million metric tons in 2022, growing five times faster than it is being properly recycled. At the same time, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN’s specialized agency for digital technologies, reports that an estimated 2.6 billion people remain offline in 2024—representing 32% of the global population.

“Across the country, valuable technology is sitting idle or headed for landfills,” says Gabe Middleton, CEO and cofounder of Human-I-T. “By upcycling these resources, we protect the environment and bridge the digital divide—giving devices a second life and people their first chance to thrive digitally. In the simplest of terms, an upcycled laptop could’ve helped someone start a business, finish school, or reconnect with family. We are not just reducing e-waste—we’re rewriting futures.”

Middleton emphasizes that while the data around digital exclusion and environmental degradation continues to intensify, awareness must lead to action. “What we need is awareness—with accountability,” he says. “It’s time for companies, communities, and policymakers to step up and turn insight into impact.”

For over a decade, Human-I-T has been doing just that. The organization partners with major institutions—including Rocket, Disney Studio Technology, General Motors, Live Nation, and more— to collect surplus technology, refurbish it, and distribute it to individuals and communities in need. Every device is securely wiped, restored to like-new condition, and given a meaningful second life.

Human-I-T’s comprehensive model goes beyond device distribution. The organization also provides high-speed internet access, digital skills training, and ongoing technical support, recognizing that all four components are essential for true digital inclusion. Without them, millions remain locked out of education, employment, healthcare, and civic participation.

“The internet is the greatest gateway to information in human history—and its impact on progress can’t be overstated,” Middleton says. “Everyone deserves access to it, because when people are connected, they have the power to learn, grow, and shape their own future.”

Human-I-T is calling on Americans to lead by example—at work, in schools, and within institutions—by posing one simple but powerful question: What happens to our old tech?

When your workplace upgrades a laptop, or your department replaces outdated equipment, ask the question. If there’s no answer, that’s an opportunity to lead. That’s the moment to act.

By choosing reuse over disposal, individuals and organizations can join a growing movement to protect the planet and expand access to opportunity—all at once.