PAR-Recycle Works
PAR-Recycle Works is a Philadelphia-based non-profit social enterprise operating an R2/RIOS-certified e-waste recycling business that provides transitional employment, job-skills training, and permanent job placement exclusively to justice-impacted individuals returning from incarceration.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What PAR-Recycle Works does
PAR-Recycle Works is a Philadelphia-based non-profit employment social enterprise founded in 2016 that operates two integrated lines of work: an R2/RIOS-certified e-waste recycling business and a workforce development program exclusively serving justice-impacted individuals returning from incarceration. On the recycling side, PAR collects, processes, and responsibly disposes of end-of-life electronics, metals, and batteries for more than 250 Supply Partners (Philadelphia-area businesses, institutions, and government agencies), supplemented by 30+ annual community recycling events and self-serve pickup/drop-off scheduling through its website. On the workforce side, the organization provides transitional green jobs at above minimum wage, 4-6 months of job-skills training, and permanent job placement assistance, reporting a 5% recidivism rate among participants versus a 50%+ national average and 63% job placement for graduates.
The underlying technology is operational rather than software-based: R2 (Responsible Recycling), the international standard created by Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI), and RIOS (Recycling Industry Operating Standard), an integrated quality, environmental, health, and safety management system. R2v3 certification was renewed in 2025, and PAR is described as the only non-profit electronics recycler in Pennsylvania holding both credentials. The core IP lies in certified process discipline, data security handling, and documented chain-of-custody for each unit recycled, rather than proprietary software or AI systems.
Revenue mechanics combine transactional recycling service fees from enterprise Supply Partners with contributions from philanthropy, grants (e.g., a 2025 District Attorney's Office grant), and in-kind donations for which tax receipts are issued. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company references an accepted-items price list and notes that pick fees vary by location. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on direct enterprise supply relationships, community event partnerships with townships and schools, referral channels through reentry community organizations, and individual donor drop-offs. The organization has 18 employees, 400+ volunteers, and as of 2024-2025 operates from a larger facility at 6901 Kingsessing Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19142, explicitly to scale recycling capacity and transitional employment.
PAR-Recycle Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PAR-Recycle Works
- Legal name
- PAR-Recycle Works
- Website
- https://par-recycleworks.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PAR-Recycle Works is a Philadelphia-based non-profit social enterprise operating an R2/RIOS-certified e-waste recycling business that provides transitional employment, job-skills training, and permanent job placement exclusively to justice-impacted individuals returning from incarceration.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PAR-Recycle Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electronics Recycling Services
- NAICS
- Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Waste Collection (56211), Waste Management and Remediation Services (562)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electronics Recycling & Material Recovery (Dismantling/Separation) (BPALAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Consumer Electronics Recycling (TVs, AV, Small Electronics) (BPALAIAH), Consumer E-waste Collection & Take-Back Programs (EUAIAIAA), E-Waste (WEEE) Collection, Refurbishment & Recycling (IMAIAFAH), Recycling, E-Waste & End-of-Life Takeback Programs (TLAAALAN)
Keywords
Where PAR-Recycle Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
PAR-Recycle Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Electronics Recycling Services: PAR earns revenue by responsibly recycling discarded, end-of-life electronics for its Supply Partners (over 250 businesses, institutions, and government agencies). The organization collects and processes e-waste, providing transitional employment to justice-impacted people while generating revenue from recycling services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
PAR-Recycle Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PAR-Recycle Works operates an R2/RIOS-certified electronics recycling business that collects and processes end-of-life electronics from over 250 Supply Partners (businesses, institutions, and government agencies) plus community drop-offs and events. The recycling operation funds and supplies transitional "green jobs" exclusively to justice-impacted individuals returning from incarceration, paired with four-to-six months of job skills training and permanent job placement support. Revenue from recycling services is reinvested into the workforce development mission of lowering recidivism through immediate economic opportunity.
Product overview
PAR-Recycle Works is a non-profit employment social enterprise operating two integrated service lines: (1) an R2/RIOS-certified e-waste recycling business that collects and processes end-of-life electronics from supply partners and community events, providing transitional green jobs to program participants, and (2) a workforce development program that provides four to six months of job skills training and permanent job placement assistance exclusively to justice-impacted individuals. The services are unified through PAR's mission of lowering recidivism by creating immediate economic opportunity through employment, training, and placement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- E-Waste Recycling Services R2/RIOS-certified collection, processing, and responsible disposal of end-of-life electronics, metals, and batteries for 250+ Supply Partners (businesses, institutions, and government agencies), with data security and environmental compliance documentation per unit.
- Workforce Development Program Job skills training and permanent job placement program providing transitional employment at above-minimum wage, four to six months of workforce development training, and placement assistance exclusively for justice-impacted individuals returning from incarceration.
- Community Recycling Events Large-scale community e-waste recycling events co-hosted with townships, neighborhood associations, schools, and institutions throughout the Philadelphia area, enabling convenient personal e-waste donations (30+ events annually).
- Pick-up and Drop-off Scheduling Scheduled collection service allowing businesses and individuals to arrange e-waste pick-up or drop-off at PAR's Philadelphia facility; tax receipts provided for in-kind donations, with pick fees varying by location.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5% recidivism rate - 90% lower than the national three-year average recidivism rate
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use PAR-Recycle Works
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PAR-Recycle Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
PAR-Recycle Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- WSFS BankcoreWSFS Bank serves as a philanthropy partner supporting PAR's mission. Robert Juliano, VP and Director of Corporate Giving & Financial Literacy, has educated transitional employees on financial literacy and supports PAR's work to employ formerly incarcerated individuals.
- Brandywine RealtycoreBrandywine Realty is a Supply Partner that uses PAR's electronics recycling services. Don Haas notes that 'doing business with PAR is a no-brainer because they have proven results' and actively recommends PAR's services to others.
- Haverford TownshipcoreHaverford Township is both a Job Partner (hiring PAR graduates as township employees) and a community recycling event host. Aimee Cuthbertson, Finance Manager/Assistant Township Manager, reports that PAR employees have been very professional and helpful with municipal services.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PAR-Recycle Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Human-I-T: Non-profit e-waste recycler that refurbishes devices for low-income communities and trains individuals in tech skills — the closest mission-overlap to PAR's reentry + e-waste hybrid, with a national footprint.
- Interconnection: Seattle-based non-profit operating a workforce-development program for underserved populations alongside certified e-waste recycling; effectively PAR's Western analog with the same dual-mission structure.
- Retrievr: Residential and SMB e-waste pickup service that competes with PAR for individual donor e-waste in the Mid-Atlantic and uses certified downstream processors; comparable channel and customer overlap.
Broad incumbents
- Republic Services: National solid-waste hauler with growing e-waste and recycling service lines; sets scale-based expectations for institutional clients that PAR's regional, non-profit operation must overcome on price and logistics.
- Goodwill Industries International: Operates workforce-development + electronics-recycling programs through regional Goodwills (including Goodwill of Delaware Valley which overlaps PAR's market), combining reentry/disability employment with R2-compliant recycling at far greater scale.
- ERI (Electronic Recyclers International): Largest R2-certified commercial e-waste recycler in North America with national logistics; represents the for-profit, scale-led competitive alternative PAR must position against for enterprise supply-partner accounts.
- Sims Lifecycle Services: Global ITAD (IT Asset Disposition) operator with R2 and RIOS certifications offering enterprise-grade recycling, data destruction, and remarketing — sets the procurement-grade benchmark PAR competes with in regulated verticals.
- Cascade Asset Management: ITAD and certified e-waste recycler serving enterprise and institutional buyers; comparable on R2-certified service offering but operates as a commercial entity rather than a mission-led non-profit.
- AnythingIT Technologies: R2/RIOS-certified ITAD provider with a strong emphasis on data destruction and end-of-life electronics processing for enterprise and government buyers; competes directly for PAR's Supply Partner contracts.
Regional players
- Sustainable Computing (CompuCycle): R2-certified non-profit/commercial e-waste recycler based outside Texas offering IT asset disposition with a social-impact overlay; mission-adjacent regional comparator for U.S. non-profit e-waste operators.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PAR-Recycle Works social profiles
Digital presencePAR-Recycle Works compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
PAR-Recycle Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PAR-Recycle Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
PAR-Recycle Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PAR-Recycle Works M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PAR-Recycle Works
What does PAR-Recycle Works do?
PAR-Recycle Works operates an R2/RIOS-certified electronics recycling business that collects and processes end-of-life electronics from over 250 Supply Partners (businesses, institutions, and government agencies) plus community drop-offs and events. The recycling operation funds and supplies transitional "green jobs" exclusively to justice-impacted individuals returning from incarceration, paired with four-to-six months of job skills training and permanent job placement support. Revenue from recycling services is reinvested into the workforce development mission of lowering recidivism through immediate economic opportunity.
Is PAR-Recycle Works a public or private company?
PAR-Recycle Works is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was PAR-Recycle Works founded?
PAR-Recycle Works was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PAR-Recycle Works based?
PAR-Recycle Works is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does PAR-Recycle Works make money?
One revenue line is on record: electronics Recycling Services.
Who are PAR-Recycle Works's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Human-I-T, Interconnection and Retrievr. Broad incumbents are Republic Services, Goodwill Industries International, ERI (Electronic Recyclers International), Sims Lifecycle Services, Cascade Asset Management and AnythingIT Technologies. Sustainable Computing (CompuCycle) is listed as a regional player.
Does PAR-Recycle Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for PAR-Recycle Works.
What industry is PAR-Recycle Works in?
PAR-Recycle Works's product category is Electronics Recycling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPALAIAE, Electronics Recycling & Material Recovery (Dismantling/Separation), with a secondary code of BPALAIAH, Consumer Electronics Recycling (TVs, AV, Small Electronics). Its NAICS code is 562920 and its SIC code is 4953.