Alexandre Bourré
2025 Youth Climate Activism Award - Essay Entry
”Earthly Alex” is a 17 year old from Ontario.
Since 2023, I have been committed to doing my part to reduce the amount of electronic waste (e-waste) that goes into landfill in York Region, which supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world, yet many residents remain unsure about how to properly recycle their old electronics. Seeing this issue grow, I took the initiative to raise awareness and facilitate e-waste recycling and reuse, and conducting research on local recycling awareness to identify gaps in my region.
I began collecting e-waste from local residents in 2023 to prevent functional electronics from ending up in landfills. Initially, I worked on collecting and recycling these devices, but in 2024, I started working with the Electronics Recycling Association (ERA), which not only recycles but refurbishes e-waste, ensuring that usable devices get donated to Canadian nonprofit organizations or individuals in need. In 2024, I was recognized nationally as the 3rd top donor of e-waste to the ERA, based on the quantity and quality of the e-waste collected. By doing so, I have reduced environmental waste and provided access to technology for those who may not otherwise afford it.
To make e-waste recycling more accessible, I have organized collection events at multiple locations, including Tiger Kicks Taekwondo school, l'École Catholique Élémentaire Le-Petit-Prince, l'École Catholique Secondaire Renaissance, and several community centers. These events have encouraged local residents to take action by providing them with a convenient way to dispose of electronics responsibly. In recognition of my efforts, I have recently been invited to attend the Sustainability in our City conference by the office of Mayor West so that I could raise awareness about sustainable recycling practices and collect e-waste from attendees.
I have also focused on education and research to create lasting change. In 2023, I conducted and published a study titled York Region, Ontario Recycling Awareness for Common Household Items, surveying 180 residents on their understanding of what can and cannot be recycled. The results highlighted the need for better education, particularly regarding black plastic and plastic cutlery. My second study, Uncovering E-Waste Recycling Awareness and Habits in York Region, Ontario, identified gaps in public knowledge and accessibility related to e-waste recycling. These studies have been viewed over 800 times and have helped bring attention to critical issues in recycling behaviour. I had the opportunity to share my research results on the OnRichmondHill.com and Climate Action Figures podcasts (Listen on Youtube here)
Find the episode here on Apple Podcasts or here on Spotify
Through my work, I have pushed boundaries in sustainable development by taking steps to reduce waste, educate residents, and promote responsible recycling practices.
“ My ultimate goal is to help people better understand how and what they can recycle, thereby protecting the planet from excessive waste.”
~Alexandre Bourré
As I continue these efforts into 2025 and beyond, I remain committed to driving change and taking action to ensure a more sustainable future for all.
As part of the submissions application we asked participants to answer these 3 questions in addition to their essay or video.
What future goals do you have around your environmental and climate work, and do you have any future projects in mind?
Only 17% of Canadians donated their old computers in 2021 (Statcan), with 28% of North Americans saying that inconvenience is what is stopping them from recycling (weforum.org). I want to address this nationally. I would like to launch an initiative called “Plug It Forward”. It would be focused on raising awareness and making e-waste donation more accessible and rewarding. First, the program needs to identify a network of partners which could act as drop-off locations across Canada; schools, malls, computer repair shops, and government buildings—where residents can easily donate unwanted electronics for reuse or recycling.
As the central coordinator, I would organize regular pick-ups from these partner sites including drop-off activities. To encourage participation, partners would earn an Earthly Bros Buddy badge, which will identify them as responsible e-waste recyclers. This should give a boost to their reputation with their customers and community. For every 10 items collected, partners can also select a local organization or individual to receive one refurbished device, allowing them to give back directly.
“Plug It Forward” offers a simple, scalable solution to increase responsible e-waste recycling across Canada—by making it more convenient and collaborative.
If you could share one message of hope for your community, what would it be? Briefly explain why you would choose this message.
My message of hope would be that even small actions can make a big difference.
I chose this message because it shows that anyone can be a leader and help make positive changes, no matter their age or resources. When I started collecting old electronics from family and friends, I didn’t think it would grow into community events and that local politicians would ask me to attend their sustainability conferences to collect e-waste there, but it did. None of this would have happened without me taking the very first small step. We don’t have to fix everything all at once. Just doing one helpful thing, like donating a used device that you don’t want, telling a friend about e-waste, or learning how to recycle properly, can lead to real change. When many people take small actions, it adds up to something powerful.
Who or what inspires you to work on climate change?
I am inspired to work on climate change by knowing that I’m helping both the environment and people who need help to gain access to technology. When I collect old electronics, I’m not just stopping them from going to the landfill, I’m helping someone in Canada get a computer they might not be able to afford. I love reading the stories from the Electronics Recycling Association about who receives the refurbished devices. It makes me really happy to know I’m part of something that helps others.
So for me, this work is more than just about the environment. It’s also about kindness and fairness. We have so many working devices that just sit in our homes or get thrown away. If we refurbish them when possible, then we can help students learn, seniors stay connected, and newcomers start their lives. That’s what keeps me going; knowing that small actions can protect the environment and make someone’s life better.