Man Refurbishes Old Computers And Gives Them To Families In Need

By Robert Boyd

TAMPA, Florida (WFTS) — Growing up in Venezuela, Tony Selvaggio witnessed firsthand how many families lived without computers, and soon realized the issue existed right here in his new home of Tampa Bay.

“Most people don’t know that there is a problem, most people don’t know that 80 percent of our computers are being thrown away and not being recycled,” said Selvaggio.

So in 2014, just a few years after immigrating to the U.S, Tony opened eSmart Recycling. Last year, the business accepted more than one million pounds of used electronics.

“If it has a plug, a switch, or a battery, then we can recycle it,” said Selvaggio.

Tony knows how impactful a computer can be. His first and only computer growing up not only got him through school, but it’s also how he applied for his