This year marked eBay’s second annual Shine Awards for Small Business. Thousands entered for a chance to be recognized as eBay’s Small Business of the Year. This year, eBay’s 2017 Small Business of the Year Award went to Angie Nelson of eWaste Direct. Founded by Angie and her husband, Joe, on Earth Day in 2008, eWaste Direct is an eco-friendly business diverting electronic waste from landfills by refurbishing and recycling electronics. Angie and Joe stumbled across an entire office’s inventory of pre-owned electronics, which they then recycled and resold, jump-starting their business. They then began offering companies free electronics pickups while many of their competitors were charging a premium for the same service. They continue that process to this day, which helps them build new relationships, evolve and thrive. To date, eWaste Direct has diverted well over seven million pounds of e-waste from landfills and is on target to exceed its next milestone of 10 million pounds.

Angie and Joe are also valued members of the eBay Small Business Ambassador Network, and attended the 2017 US of eBay Advocacy Day in Washington, DC this spring. Angie was also recognized by Colombian television station RCN and the Colombian Embassy in Washington, DC as one of “Los 22 Mas” – one of the 22 most inspiring Colombians living in the United States.

Congratulations to Angie and Joe and the entire eWaste Direct team! Your story is truly inspiring.