FIRST Parts Recycling System
The FIRST Parts Recycling System is our current ongoing program, aiming to collect, repair, and redistribute FIRST STEM Materials to under-resourced schools and community programs. There are two parts to this: the LEGO Donation Program (LDP) and the Hardware Recycling Alliance (HRA). Each initiative intends to improve the resource scarcity for different age groups, targeting children and middle/high school students, respectively.
LEGO Donation Program
Bridging the Resource Gap through Parts Recycling
The LEGO Donation Program is our first step in the FIRST Parts Recycling System. We collect, repair, and redistribute LEGO and FLL kits to under-resourced schools and community programs, turning unused parts into new STEM opportunities.
Project Overview
Bridge Type: Resource Gap
Major Program: FIRST Parts Recycling System (LEGO/FLL → FTC/FRC)
Many schools and community groups want to run STEM and FIRST programs, but lack the budget to purchase full LEGO or FLL kits. At the same time, other teams have boxes of unused parts left over from past seasons.
The LEGO & FLL Kit Donation Program connects these two sides. Students lead the full cycle: collecting unused parts, cleaning and repairing them, rebuilding complete kits, and delivering them to new communities along with simple lesson guides.
This project aligns with our mission to “Bridge the Gap” by making high-quality STEM materials accessible to underfunded schools through a sustainable, trackable, and replicable recycling workflow.
2025 LEGO & FLL Kit Donation Program
Implementation Window: Nov 1 – Dec 30, 2025
| Goal | Action | Deadline | Quantifiable Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Establish the Donation Program | Ask friends and families to donate LEGO parts; set up donation booths in schools and partner locations. | Ongoing | Set up at least 5 donation booths. Each team member collects at least 100 LEGO pieces by end of November and 200 pieces by end of December. |
| 2. Establish a Kit Recycling Workflow | Collect and refurbish donated parts; design and pack new LEGO kits independently. | Ongoing | Prepare at least 30 rebuilt kits ready for use at the November 29 event and at least 150 rebuilt kits for 2025. |
| 3. Distribute to Schools and Communities | Deliver kits through community events and school partnerships. | Dec 30, 2025 | Run at least 3 events, reach 5 communities & 6 schools, engage at least 150 participants, and help convert at least 30 into FIRST programs. |
All goals are tracked through a shared impact spreadsheet and event report forms, feeding into the STEM Bridge Hub Impact Dashboard.
Standardized Recycling Workflow
To make this project easy to replicate, we follow a clear eight-step workflow from collection to global sharing.
| Stage | Description | Assigned to |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Collection Point Setup | Set up LEGO donation booths in partner schools, the team base, RoboPlanet, and community locations. | Everyone |
| 2. Collection & Logging | Record each donation (quantity, condition, donor) using a shared Google Form and tracking sheet. | Data & Logistics sub-team |
| 3. Cleaning & Inspection | Sanitize parts (warm wash and dry), check for damage, and remove unusable pieces. | Quality & Safety sub-team |
| 4. Categorization | Sort parts by type (bricks, plates, wheels, gears, etc.) and label containers for easy packing. | Inventory sub-team |
| 5. Repackaging | Assemble complete kits, add simple manuals or build ideas, and seal in clearly labeled boxes. | Kit Design sub-team |
| 6. Educational Integration | Attach “Bridge the Gap” one-page lesson guides so teachers can start using the kits immediately. | Curriculum sub-team |
| 7. Distribution | Deliver kits through events, school visits, or mail. Capture photos, feedback, and estimated student reach. | Outreach sub-team |
| 8. International Awareness Platform | Upload photos, stories, and data to the STEM Bridge Hub and share highlights through RDFZ and partner media. | Media & Reporting sub-team |
This workflow becomes a reusable template that other FIRST teams can adapt for their own recycling projects.
2026 Sustainability Plan
From one-season project to a long-term recycling ecosystem.
| Aspect | Action Plan |
|---|---|
| Local Sustainability | Develop a digital LEGO Donation Booth Application Process that new team members can replicate at their schools. Maintain a tracking database recording the number of LEGO parts collected and kits created annually. |
| National Collaboration | Expand the recycling program through student leadership and cross-team partnerships, inviting FTC/FRC teams across provinces and states to join. |
| International Collaboration | Co-host an annual “Recycling Day” with RDFZ and other partners to promote global resource sharing and publish recycling data on the STEM Bridge Hub. |
In 2026 we also plan to expand beyond LEGO and FLL into an FTC/FRC hardware reuse plan, including motors, sensors, and aluminum structures.
Two-Year Plan & Multi-Level Impact
We plan the project over two seasons and three levels of impact: local, cross-country, and global.
| Year | Goal | Key Expansion |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 (Local Focus) | Establish a LEGO and FLL kit recycling loop across nearby schools. | Pilot program launched, at least 200 students reached. |
| 2026 (Cross-Country) | Expand to FTC/FRC teams across provinces and states. | Form a joint Recycling Alliance with at least 3 teams. |
| 2026 (Global) | Publish a global guide on sustainable robotics reuse. | Share “Sustainable Robotics Reuse” on the STEM Bridge Hub, promoted to at least 10 international teams. |
Three-Level Impact
- Local: LEGO donation drives and school redistribution to nearby communities.
- Cross-Country: Create a standardized recycling SOP and share it across FRC and FTC teams in Canada and the USA.
- Global: Invite FIRST Global and APAC teams to replicate the recycling model using our open-source guide and templates.
Replicability & Open Resources
This program is designed so any FIRST team can adopt and adapt it in their own region.
- Public Guide: A full written guide on how to run a LEGO & FLL recycling program, hosted on the STEM Bridge Hub.
- Templates: Donation booth posters, data tracking sheets, consent forms, and simple lesson one-pagers.
- Safety Checklist: Cleaning instructions, handling guidelines, and basic safety reminders for team members and schools.
- Multilingual Toolkit: Resources translated into English, Mandarin, and French to support wider adoption.
- License: All materials released under CC-BY so teams can remix and translate them while giving credit.
Teams who replicate the project are invited to share back their improvements and data, so the global recycling ecosystem keeps growing stronger each season.
Want to Run This Program with Us?
If you are a FIRST team, school, or community organization interested in LEGO donation and kit recycling, we would love to collaborate.
- Host a LEGO donation booth at your school or event
- Request rebuilt kits for your new STEM or FIRST program
- Translate or adapt our recycling toolkit for your country or region
- Share data and stories to be featured on the STEM Bridge Hub
FTC/FRC Hardware Recycling Alliance
Expanding the FIRST Parts Recycling System to Motors, Sensors, and Aluminum
After launching the LEGO & FLL Kit Donation Program, our next step is to bridge the Resource Gap at the FTC and FRC level. The FTC/FRC Hardware Recycling Alliance collects and reuses motors, sensors, aluminum structures, and electronics to help under-resourced teams start and sustain their robots.
Project Overview
Bridge Type: Resource Gap & Financial Gap | Major Program: FIRST Parts Recycling System (Phase 2)
FTC and FRC robots require expensive hardware: drive motors, sensors, control hubs, aluminum structures, wiring, and game elements. Many veteran teams accumulate extra parts each season, while new or low-resource teams struggle to afford basic components.
The FTC/FRC Hardware Recycling Alliance connects these teams. We collect safe and reusable hardware, test and refurbish it, and then provide starter hardware packs and guidance for new or underfunded FTC/FRC teams. At the same time, we publish a Sustainable Robotics Reuse guide so any team can build a similar system.
This project is a key part of our mission to “Bridge the Gap” by removing cost and resource barriers for advanced robotics programs.
2026 FTC/FRC Hardware Reuse Plan
Implementation Focus: Jan – Dec 2026
| Goal | Action | Timeframe | Quantifiable Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Launch Hardware Recycling Alliance | Invite FTC/FRC teams to join a shared recycling network; sign simple MOUs on safety and data sharing. | Q1 2026 | At least 3+ founding teams from different cities/provinces. |
| 2. Build Hardware Collection Pipeline | Collect surplus motors, sensors, hubs, aluminum profiles, and hardware from partner teams after each season. | Q1–Q2 2026 | At least 50+ motors, 30+ sensors, and 100+ aluminum pieces tested and logged. |
| 3. Create Starter Hardware Packs | Group recycled hardware into standardized “Starter Packs” for rookie or low-resource FTC/FRC teams. | Q2–Q3 2026 | At least 10 Starter Packs prepared, each with a recommended robot configuration list. |
| 4. Support New & Expanding Teams | Match starter packs with schools or communities starting FTC/FRC, including basic build and wiring guidance. | Q3–Q4 2026 | Support at least 3–5 teams in launching or sustaining their season. |
| 5. Document and Share the Model | Publish the Sustainable Robotics Reuse guide and alliance resources on the STEM Bridge Hub. | End of 2026 | Guide shared with at least 10+ international teams. |
All goals and metrics are tracked in a shared database synchronized with our Impact Dashboard.
Hardware Recycling Workflow
The hardware workflow builds on the LEGO recycling model but adds extra steps for safety, testing, and documentation. Each partner team can replicate or adapt this process.
| Stage | Description | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Call for Surplus Hardware | Invite FTC/FRC teams to donate extra or retired parts (motors, sensors, hubs, aluminum, wheels, brackets). | Alliance Coordination Team |
| 2. Intake & Logging | Record each part in a database: type, condition, quantity, donor team, and season. | Data & Inventory sub-team |
| 3. Safety & Function Testing | Test each item for basic function (motor spin, sensor response, hub connection) and check for visible damage. | Technical sub-team |
| 4. Classification | Label parts as “Competition Ready”, “Practice Only”, or “For Training/Showcase Robots Only”. | Technical sub-team |
| 5. Kit Design | Combine motors, sensors, structure, and hardware into Starter Packs with suggested drivetrain and mechanism options. | Robot Design sub-team |
| 6. Documentation & Guides | Attach wiring diagrams, basic build examples, and programming notes aligned with FIRST safety rules. | Curriculum & Documentation sub-team |
| 7. Distribution & Mentoring | Deliver starter packs to rookie or underfunded teams, and match them with student mentors for check-in sessions. | Outreach & Mentoring sub-team |
| 8. Feedback & Loop | Collect feedback, photos, and season outcomes to refine the kit design and share stories on the STEM Bridge Hub. | Media & Impact sub-team |
Hardware that does not meet safety standards is recycled or used only for demos, never for competition robots.
Cross-Team Recycling Alliance
The FTC/FRC Hardware Recycling Alliance is built on collaboration. Each partner team contributes parts, knowledge, and mentorship.
| Alliance Member Role | Example Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Donor Teams | Provide surplus and retired hardware; label parts clearly; share photos and stories from past seasons. |
| Hub Team (CARAT Lab & Partners) | Coordinate collection, testing, packing, and matching of kits to new teams; maintain the shared database. |
| Rookie / Low-Resource Teams | Receive starter packs, attend basic training, and share feedback and impact data for the dashboard. |
| Mentor & Training Teams | Offer virtual or in-person sessions on safe wiring, drivetrain basics, and simple mechanisms using recycled parts. |
| International Partners (e.g. RDFZ) | Help promote the alliance model, contribute translation, and co-host global “Recycling Day” events. |
Our goal is to turn recycling into a shared culture in FTC and FRC, not just a one-team project.
Two-Year Plan & Multi-Level Impact
This project builds directly on the 2-year “Bridge the Gap” roadmap for the Resource Gap.
| Year | Goal | Key Expansion |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Prototype and test the model at LEGO/FLL level through the Kit Donation Program. | Establish collection–rebuild–distribution loop in local schools. |
| 2026 (Cross-Country) | Expand to FTC/FRC hardware reuse and build the Recycling Alliance across provinces/states. | Work with at least 3+ partner teams to share hardware and co-design starter packs. |
| 2026 (Global) | Publish the Sustainable Robotics Reuse guide and alliance toolkit. | Share resources with at least 10+ international teams through the STEM Bridge Hub. |
Three-Level Impact
- Local: Provide hardware and mentoring to nearby rookie FTC/FRC teams; support practice robots for outreach.
- Cross-Country: Coordinate resource sharing between Canadian regions and partner teams in other provinces/states.
- Global: Share our guide and templates with teams in Asia, Europe, and FIRST Global to encourage sustainable reuse.
Replicability & Open Resources
The FTC/FRC Hardware Recycling Alliance is designed to be copied, adapted, and improved by other teams.
- Alliance Toolkit: MOUs, hardware intake forms, safety checklists, and starter pack templates.
- Build & Wiring Guides: Simple examples of drivetrains and mechanisms built mostly from recycled parts.
- Data Tracking Sheets: Shared format to track donated hardware, distributed packs, and team impact.
- Multilingual Support: Key documents translated into English, Mandarin, and French.
- License: CC-BY license for all guides so teams can remix the model while crediting the original work.
As more teams adopt this model, we aim to collect case studies and examples to update the toolkit each season.
Join the Hardware Recycling Alliance
We welcome FTC and FRC teams, sponsors, and community partners who believe in sustainable robotics and equitable access to STEM.
- Donate safe, reusable hardware at the end of your season
- Help test and sort parts during alliance work sessions
- Mentor a rookie team using recycled hardware
- Co-host a local or global Recycling Day event