One of the things we value most about the work we do at CACRC is the opportunity to build real, lasting relationships, especially with schools. Our partnership with Westdale Middle School is one of those relationships, and it’s one we’re especially proud of because it grew from shared values, trust, and a commitment to showing students that their actions truly matter.
Over the course of 2025 and into 2026, we had the opportunity to work closely with Westdale’s students, educators, and families to bring hands-on learning about electronic waste, sustainability, and technology access to life. What started as conversations and classroom visits quickly turned into meaningful action.
From Learning to Action
Westdale students didn’t just hear about e-waste, they experienced it. During visits to CACRC, students toured our facility and saw firsthand what happens after electronics are donated. They learned how devices are sorted, tested, refurbished, and responsibly recycled, and why keeping electronics out of landfills is so important for our environment and our community.
What impressed us most was how quickly students took ownership of what they learned. Ahead of National Recycling Day, Westdale Middle School hosted student-led electronics collection efforts on campus, encouraging families and neighbors to clean out their old tech and recycle responsibly. Watching students put knowledge into action was a powerful reminder that sustainability starts with education and trust in young people.
Connecting Sustainability to Opportunity
Our work with Westdale goes beyond recycling. Throughout this partnership, we focused on helping students understand the full picture — how refurbished technology can be redistributed to families, schools, and nonprofits, and how access to technology supports learning, workforce readiness, and long-term opportunity.
During tours and classroom discussions, students explored:
- The environmental impact of electronic waste
- The many careers that support electronics recycling and refurbishment
- How technology access plays a role in education and economic mobility
To make the experience engaging and memorable, students participated in hands-on activities and raffles, reinforcing that sustainability isn’t abstract but something they can be part of right now.
Showing Up as Community Partners
CACRC is proud to be a community partner of Westdale Middle School, and we’ve loved showing up for school events like open houses, community resource fairs, and campus celebrations. These moments matter. They strengthen relationships with families and allow us to reinforce that CACRC isn’t just an organization, we’re neighbors invested in the success of our students.
This partnership reflects why CACRC exists: to responsibly recycle electronics while expanding access to technology across Louisiana. By engaging students early, we’re planting seeds for environmental stewardship, civic responsibility, and leadership.
