More Than Just Recycling: How Diversity Powers Innovation at AVAY

When people think about recycling, they imagine bins, cardboard, e-waste, maybe a baler or two. But at AVAY, we know the real magic behind our operation isn’t just the machines—it’s our people. And our people come from all over the world.

We’re not exaggerating. On any given day in our warehouse, you’ll hear conversations in Spanish, French and English—sometimes all in the same breakroom. We’ve got team members from over 10 different countries, all working side by side to keep electronics out of landfills and give devices a second life.

Why Diversity and Inclusion Matter to Our Business

AVAY isn’t just a recycling company. We’re a people-first company. And our diversity isn’t just something we list on a brochure—it’s a business strength.

Here’s why:

✅ Different perspectives = smarter solutions. From sorting incoming e-waste to improving the way we clean and handle items like remote controls and cables, our team’s varied backgrounds help us build smarter, safer, and more efficient procedures every day.

✅ Inclusion fuels retention. When people feel safe, valued, and respected, they stay. Our employee retention rate has improved year over year—because we invest in building a culture of belonging.

✅ Diverse teams reflect our diverse customers. We serve people from all backgrounds, and our workforce mirrors that. It makes us more adaptable and responsive in every customer interaction.

It’s Not Just Talk—We Back It Up

We’ve made diversity part of our day-to-day through:

• “Diversity Holiday” program: where employees share and celebrate their cultures.

• Multilingual training: because safety and opportunity should be for everyone.

• Team lunches and cross-cultural potlucks: because nothing unites people like food.

  
  

Diversity at AVAY isn’t a checkbox—it’s a core value. It helps us hire better, work better, and live our mission: building a more sustainable (and more inclusive) world.

A Story of Empowerment Through Real Opportunity

Let me share something that actually happened—not at AVAY, but a story that really stuck with me.

Meet Zhiyang Shao, who grew up deaf in China and got his start through Microsoft Philanthropies’ “Skills for Jobs” program. Zhiyang learned everything from AI fundamentals to Microsoft 365 and Power BI, built a chatbot during a hackathon, and taught digital training for others with hearing disabilities—all while building his communication confidence.

After completing his internship with Microsoft Philanthropies in China, he landed an engineering role with a tech company in Suzhou. What’s remarkable is that today, he still teaches simple sign language to his colleagues—helping them understand the communication barriers people like him face—and shaping a more inclusive office culture from the inside out.

This story isn’t just about one person winning a job. It’s about how targeted training and empathy—combined—can change entire workplace cultures.

🔗 Read the full story here