Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Rogers.
Hi Matthew, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
City eWaste started as a hobby in my backyard in Franklin, Tennessee. I was fascinated by what people threw away, especially electronics. I’d pull apart old laptops, TVs, and cellphones just to see what was inside, and soon realized that almost every device contained value: gold, copper, aluminum, and reusable components with life left in them. Living in a wealthy county, the real edge wasn’t luck, it was access. Wealthy neighborhoods were constantly upgrading, and the “obsolete” tech on the curb became my first urban mine. That insight became my mantra: “Where there’s wealth, there’s ewaste.”
What began as a weekend experiment became a local drop off program, then a licensed recycling center, and eventually a national brand. The Franklin community proved the model, supplied materials, and spread the word. From there, I built a scalable Sourcing • Sorting • Selling system that works anywhere with access, guided by my Love • Good • Money philosophy:
• Love: Do work you’re wired for, curious, hands on, rewarding.
• Good: Be the trusted local solution, do right by neighbors and the planet.
• Money: Make a good living by being essential, providing local jobs, and being proud of where your value comes from.
These days, if an opportunity doesn’t hit all three, I pass.
Today, City eWaste is scaling through franchising under our parent company, DeWaste. Along the way, we launched Give Good Tech to donate refurbished devices and Ecopreneur Club to rally leaders solving the global waste crisis. What started as a backyard curiosity in a Tennessee barn has become a modern day garage startup story, proof that you don’t need Silicon Valley to build something scalable, just access, grit, and a little love for what others throw away.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. In the early days, I had no roadmap, no mentor, and no funding… just curiosity, a screwdriver and a barn full of broken electronics. Most people thought I was nuts to spend my weekends tearing apart old laptops for parts. The hardest part wasn’t learning what was inside the machines, it was figuring out how to turn that curiosity into a real, repeatable business.
Scaling was another challenge. Recycling is a logistics-heavy industry, and I had to learn how to move, sort, and store thousands of pounds of materials efficiently without losing sight of the human side of the business. Finding reliable buyers, managing fluctuating metal markets, and handling the never-ending stream of TVs nobody wants to touch were all part of the grind.
But the biggest challenge was mental. Staying patient when growth was slow and learning that progress in this industry comes one pickup, one partnership, and one conversation at a time. Every obstacle forced me to build smarter systems, trust my instincts, and keep the same philosophy that got me started: do what you love, do good work, and the money will follow.
We’ve been impressed with City eWaste , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
City eWaste was born in Franklin, Tennessee, out of a simple idea, turning discarded technology into opportunity. We specialize in municipal electronics recycling, helping counties and cities manage their ewaste responsibly while keeping valuable materials in circulation and out of landfills.
What truly sets us apart is that City eWaste is the first and only ewaste franchise system in America, built to help local entrepreneurs launch ewaste recycling operations that serve their communities. Our model transforms what most people see as junk into multiple profit streams, from refurbished equipment to precious metal recovery, all while creating local jobs and measurable environmental impact.
We’re also the only ewaste company in the country that actively saves collectible and retired technology before it’s destroyed. From vintage computers and rare prototypes to early gaming systems and studio gear, we preserve tech history and rehome it to collectors, educators, and enthusiasts who value it.
City eWaste started in a backyard barn and has grown into a national brand redefining what electronics recycling looks like in America.
How do you think about happiness?
I don’t think happiness is something anyone sustains all the time… it comes and goes. For me, joy is the more reliable pursuit. I find it in simple things, especially nature. Being outside grounds me. Whether it’s walking a trail, feeling the weather change, or just sitting quietly and watching the world move, that’s where I reset. Nature doesn’t ask anything from you, it just reminds you to slow down and exist for a bit. That’s the closest thing to happiness I know.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://cityewaste.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cityewaste
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/e-waste/
- Twitter: https://x.com/ewastematt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ewastematt
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/city-ewaste-franklin
- Other: https://suno.com/@ewaste
Image Credits
Photos by Brandy Kay Photography
