e-Stewards disability employment program announces participants

Nine companies will participate in the Advance+ program, which is a workforce development program for people with autism and other disabilities.

E-Stewards, Seattle, has announced the 2020 class of e-Stewards certified recyclers that are participating in the new Advance+ program, a workforce development program created to employ people with autism and other disabilities. It is being piloted under the management of James Emmett and Co., a consultancy based in Wisconsin that specializes in fostering employment for underemployed disabled individuals. The Advance+ program is designed to help e-Stewards solve critical labor problems while helping their communities solve a critical and growing social issue, according to the certification program.

“E-Stewards is proud to bring this workforce development initiative to our industry,” says Bob Akers, e-Stewards enterprise director. “Advance+ is a great added value for e-Stewards and provides an important, valuable program for their communities."

Nine e-Stewards certified companies will participate in the program in 2020:

  • Apto Solutions, Atlanta;
  • Cascade Asset Management, Madison, Wisconsin;
  • Comprenew, Grand Rapids, Michigan;
  • eGreen IT Solutions, Phoenix;
  • Friendly Earth International, Seattle;      
  • Liquid Technology, Brooklyn, New York;
  • Sage Sustainable Electronics, Columbus;
  • Sipi Asset Recovery, Elk Grove Village, Illinois; and
  • Universal Recycling Technologies, Janesville, Wisconsin.

E-Stewards Blue Star Recyclers of Colorado and Illinois has piloted the Advance+ program The Blue Star experience proved that individuals on the autism spectrum are well-suited to the often repetitive, but technically detailed, manual labor done by electronic equipment dismantlers and refurbishers, according to e-Stewards.

“As a long-time e-Steward certified recycler with a social enterprise mission of employing people with disabilities, Blue Star Recyclers is excited to be part of the launch of the Advance+ program,” says company founder Bill Morris. “The goal is to show other e-Stewards how to leverage the disability workforce to create a win-win-win situation benefitting ethical recyclers who are seeking a better labor solution, those with disabilities who are seeking employment and the good of our communities and country.”

A panel of third-party disability experts selected the participating e-Stewards recyclers. They will receive training and accompanying tools covering employee sourcing and integration, outreach and messaging. The training program is valued at $35,000 for each e-Stewards company and has been funded by two philanthropic foundations, according to e-Stewards. James Emmett and Co. will provide the training. The company has worked with such corporations as PepsiCo, Walgreens and Best Buy to advance employment for the disabled.

"Hiring workers with autism and similar disabilities has proven to have a positive bottom-line impact on the companies who have undertaken this effort," said company founder James Emmett. “These companies have found that employees with autism are more loyal, safer and can perform equally or better when compared to their counterparts without disabilities.”

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