The 2025 ERA Scholarship Competition is organized by the Electronic Recycling Association (ERA), a Canadian non-profit promoting sustainability and digital inclusion. The award supports student leadership and community action through a hands-on competition that challenges students to plan, promote, and execute an e-waste collection campaign in their local area. Winners receive scholarships, refurbished tech, and the opportunity to donate laptops to charity.
When is the Application Deadline:
September 30, 2025
Which Fields are Eligible?
No specific academic field is required. Students from all disciplines can participate, as the competition focuses on leadership, environmental impact, and marketing.
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Type:
Scholarship competition – project-based and merit-based.
Who can Apply?
Full-time or part-time students currently residing in Canada.
Students outside ERA’s core operating cities (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Halifax, Montreal) are also eligible with adjusted requirements.
How are Applicants Selected?
Winners are selected based on:
- Quantity and quality of electronic waste collected
- Creativity and effectiveness of the marketing strategy
- Community impact and engagement
- Detailed reporting of activities
- Use of social media (must tag ERA and use #ERAScholarship)
Which Countries Are Eligible?
Canada only
Where will the Award be Taken?
Canada – Students will run their e-waste collection events locally within their communities.
How Many Awards?
A total of 10 winners will receive varying prizes:
- $10,000 + MacBook Pro + 3 laptops for charity
- $5,000 + MacBook Pro + 3 laptops for charity
- $3,000 + MacBook Pro + 3 laptops for charity
- $1,000 + MacBook Pro + 3 laptops for charity (2 awards)
- MacBook Pro + 3 laptops for charity (5 awards)
Note: All MacBook Pro units are refurbished.
What is the Benefit of the Award?
- Up to $10,000 in scholarship funds
- A refurbished MacBook Pro
- Three laptops donated to a charity of the winner’s choice
- Leadership, marketing, and sustainability experience
How Long Will the Award Last?
The competition runs from January 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025.
Winners will be announced in November 2025.
How to Apply:
Submit an online application and event proposal through the official ERA Scholarship portal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – 2025 ERA Scholarship Competition
1. What is the ERA Scholarship Competition about?
The ERA Scholarship Competition is a national initiative in Canada that challenges students to create and run their own e-waste collection campaigns. It combines community impact, environmental responsibility, and leadership development with the chance to win scholarship funds and tech prizes.
2. Who is eligible to apply?
All full-time or part-time students currently living in Canada are eligible. Students outside of ERA’s key service areas (like Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, etc.) can still apply with some adjusted requirements.
3. Do I need to be studying a specific subject?
No. Students from all academic fields can apply. The competition focuses on project execution, creativity, and leadership—not on academic discipline.
4. Is this a traditional scholarship?
No. This is a competition-based scholarship. Students must plan and execute an electronics recycling campaign, then submit a report. Winners are selected based on results and impact.
5. What counts as e-waste for this competition?
Eligible items include laptops, computers, monitors, servers, tablets, phones, gaming consoles, and networking equipment.
🚫 TVs and household/personal electronics are not accepted.
6. How do I collect the items?
You can:
- Promote the collection and get people to schedule pickups via the ERA app or website.
- Organize corporate pickups (10+ computing devices).
- Host a community e-waste collection event (with at least 4 weeks’ notice to ERA).
ERA will assist with logistics and pickup support.
7. What support does ERA provide during my campaign?
ERA can provide collection cages, banners, trucks, and even staff to support your event (with advance notice). They also handle logistics and pickup of approved electronics at no charge.
8. How are winners selected?
Winners are chosen based on:
- Amount and type of e-waste collected
- Creativity and reach of your marketing campaign
- Engagement with the community and local businesses
- Quality of your final report
- Use of the hashtag #ERAScholarship and proper tagging on social media
9. What are the prizes?
Top prizes include:
- 🥇 $10,000 + MacBook Pro + 3 laptops for charity
- 🥈 $5,000 + MacBook Pro + 3 laptops for charity
- 🥉 $3,000 + MacBook Pro + 3 laptops for charity
- 2 prizes of $1,000 + MacBook Pro + 3 laptops for charity
- 5 prizes of MacBook Pro + 3 laptops for charity
Note: All MacBook Pro units are refurbished.
10. When is the deadline to apply?
You can begin applying on January 1, 2025. The competition ends on September 30, 2025.
Winners will be announced in November 2025.
11. Do I need to create social media accounts for the campaign?
Yes, if you create accounts specifically for the competition, ERA will own the rights and you must hand over the login credentials after the competition. This is a condition for eligibility.
12. Is there a fee to enter?
No. Entry is completely free. However, if non-approved items are collected, there may be disposal fees—but these items can still count toward your totals if paid for.
