PAR Recycle Works: Improving Lives & the Environment

Abstract

With over two million individuals incarcerated, the United States locks up more people per capita than any other nation in the world. The majority of these individuals are disproportionately from Black and Brown communities. In Philadelphia, 62.2% of individuals will be reincarcerated within three years of their release. How can we reverse this trend and ensure that life outside of prison does not lead to incarceration? Philadelphia’s People Advancing Reintegration (PAR) Recycle Works serves as a case study. PAR’s recidivism rate is a mere 5%, a striking contrast to the national rate of 68%. Since 2016, PAR has committed to operating a sustainable business that reflects the company’s values of social justice and environmental responsibility. PAR collects electronics or e-waste such as computers, printers, televisions, monitors, wires, batteries, and other electronic devices. PAR provides transitional employment to people returning from prison by training employees to collect, sort, and deconstruct e-waste. Employees also receive education in digital and financial literacy, conflict management, and mental health strategies. PAR also trains its employees about recycling e-waste. To date, PAR has diverted over one million pounds of e-waste from landfills. PAR has worked with over 200 supply partners who have donated e-waste or participated in community e-waste drives. From employees to the local community to the environment, PAR’s mission and its impact are felt around the city.