PAR Recycle Works’ warehouse in Germantown
PAR Recycle Works (People Advancing Reintegration), a nonprofit electronics recycler, provides transitional employment to people returning from prison. This Germantown-based organization diverted over 250 tons of electronic waste (or “e-waste”) from the landfill. E-waste contains materials that can be upcycled or reused if recycled properly, such as the copper in wires or the gold in computer motherboards.
We recently visited PAR and learned from General Manager and Co-Founder Maurice Q. Jones and board member Bob Fabiszewski that electronic waste can be quite valuable. Jones explained: “There is more gold in one ton of motherboards being recycled than there is in 80 tons of gold ore that could be extracted from the Earth.”
A barrel of computer motherboards contain valuable minerals that are recycled
The secret to PAR’s success
PAR deconstructs electronics and destroys data to generate revenue and pay employees. PAR provides employees with skills and opportunities to help them build safer communities.
Job Skills for Individuals
PAR provides individuals with the skills and training to re-enter the job force. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, nationwide, over 68% of formerly incarcerated individuals will be re-incarcerated within three years of their release. For people who have worked at PAR, the reincarceration rate is just 5%.
Building Community
PAR builds community through partnerships. These partners include: universities (University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, Chestnut Hill College, among others), local schools (Penn Charter and Germantown Friends School), churches, and Weavers Way Co-op. These organizations donate their e-waste (computers, printers, batteries, TVs, and cell phones) and choose to either drop off the recyclables at PAR or schedule a pick-up.
Deconstructing Computers
Data security is highly emphasized when PAR recycles its e-waste. In order to protect their clients’ data security, PAR destroys data by degaussing (magnetically erasing) and then physically destroying the hard drives.
PAR Employee Jevell deconstructs between 100-150 computer towers a day
Besides the hard skills of deconstructing recyclables, PAR also provides courses in digital literacy, financial literacy, and mindfulness for people to learn how to manage their income and conflict with other coworkers. “Helping people build a sense of accountability and showing up on time is important,” notes Jones. “Every Tuesday and Wednesday, we have discussions focusing on topics like these.”
Life After PAR
Where do employees go after PAR? For Jones, PAR is the first step in job re-entry, but should never be their final destination. “Most employees usually spend 4-7 months here before being transferred to other full-time jobs. We want employees to be comfortable here, but we don’t want them to feel comfortable to the degree that they want to stay here forever,” reflects Jones. “The biggest hope is that the individuals come here to be equipped with the skill sets that they lack before, and leave with the abilities that can help them restart their lives again.”
Brandon, a former employee at PAR who now is employed as a driver, describes PAR as “A place that restores lives and helps the earth.” And PAR is doing just that, with each e-waste that is recycled.
Article by Vivian Chang, intern at Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants. Vivian is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Education in Learning Sciences and Technologies.
