Costa sophomore, Ryan Beaupain, is a passionate environmentalist who is working to better the planet. He is focusing on the pressing issue of electronic waste, and organized a used tech drive which inspires people in the community to recycle their used technology.
We collected tons of items, from household appliances to iPhones and Macbooks,” Beaupain said. “Through multiple collection events and partnerships with nonprofits and companies, we have collected and recycled around 3000 electronics.”
Beaupain is involved in Costa’s Digital Philanthropy Club, and many of the tech drive’s volunteers are its involved members. The club has a partnership with EcoSpot Recycling, who recycles the materials collected at the drive and returns the proceeds to the club which donates them to further support the cause.
“My short term goals are to raise $75k and work with the Music to the Ears Foundation to build a computer lab for underprivileged students,” Beaupain said. “My long term goals are to recycle over 20k electronics by the end of my junior year at Costa.”
Beaupain’s concern and interest in helping the environment began long before he came to Costa. At just eleven years old he worked to raise over ten thousand dollars to have more trees planted around the community.
“I have always been passionate about environmental challenges,” Beaupain said. “This motivation carried over into high school, where I dedicated my focus to the issue of electronic waste.”
He also founded eBridge Recycling, which strives to preserve resources and declutter landfills. It also uses its funding to provide underprivileged children with the digital resources necessary for their education. Costa is working towards the same goal, and hosted a tech drive on March 15 and collected used computers and tablets, just to name a few.
“Technology has become so ubiquitous in our lives, yet I came across a statistic that showed less than 25% of electronics are actually recycled,” Beaupain said. “I felt that this was an area of improvement to which I could contribute. Ultimately, I hope to make an impact in both electronics recycling and the digital divide.”
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: (3/10/2025)
– What kinds of items did you collect? How many items did you collect?
1. We collected tons of items, from household appliances to iPhones and Macbooks. Through multiple collection events and partnerships with nonprofits and companies, we have collected and recycled around 3000 electronics.
– Who did the drive work to support/help? Who received the donations?
2. Much of the work at our drives is done by the great volunteers from the Digital Philanthropy Club at Mira Costa. Donations are received by our business partner, EcoSpot Recycling, who responsibly recycles the electronics and gives us the proceeds to donate to charity.
– Why are you passionate about this cause and what inspired you to help?
3. I have always been passionate about environmental challenges, starting when I raised $10k as an eleven year old to plant trees locally. This motivation carried over into high school, where I dedicated my focus to the issue of electronic waste.
– Why did you choose to focus on collecting technology and why is tech so significant and important?
4. Technology has become so ubiquitous in our lives, yet I came across a statistic that showed less than 25% of electronics are actually recycled. I felt that this was an area of improvement to which I could contribute, which is why I founded eBridge Recycling.
– What are your short term and long term goals and how do you hope to make an impact?
5. My short term goals are to raise $75k and work with the Music to the Ears Foundation to build a computer lab for underprivileged students. My long term goals are to recycle over 20k electronics by the end of my junior year at Costa. Ultimately, I hope to make an impact in both electronics recycling and the digital divide.
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