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Nashville non-profit, Electronics Recycling Solutions, hiring adults with autism

Posted at 8:45 AM, Feb 19, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-19 09:45:09-05

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — One in 59 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and each year 50,000 turn 18-years-old. Now, there's a Nashville non-profit, dedicated to employing these young adults.

"We’re meeting a huge need here in Nashville. First of all, there’s not that many women-owned businesses for electronics recycling. And second of all these young adults really want to work," said Rebecca Dopp, Executive Director, Electronics Recycling Solutions.

She launched the company to address. recycling and adults with autism.

"We have this under-employed group over here that are highly qualified and they’re not hiring them," she said.

Dopp says 1 in 5 Americans have a diagnosed disability and of those fewer than 20-percent are employed. And with more than 50 million tons of electronics in need of recycling annually, it's the largest and fastest-growing waste stream in the world.

Dopp says she's simply pairing wasted talent - with wasted resources.

The team picks up electronics from 10 different counties. Click here for more information.