Social Impact

Our tech-hungry world generates billions of electronic devices each year, often without much consideration given to what happens to them at the end of their useful life. The United Nations estimates that only 20% of the 45 million tons of electronic waste produced globally each year is recycled. The rest is landfilled or incinerated, allowing toxic materials such as lead, cadmium, and mercury to pollute our soil, water, and air. As an R2 (Responsible Recycling) certified company, we are fiercely committed to reusing equipment where possible and recycling the rest in a manner that protects our employees and community. This reduces the need to mine new natural resources such as copper, gold, oil, palladium, and tin - some of which are conflict minerals.

There are 2.3 million people incarcerated in America today (NIJ) – a 700% increase since 1970. We may think that sending someone to jail or prison means locking them up and throwing away the key. In reality, 98% of people are eventually released back to our communities. What often awaits them is a tangled web of bias and legal restrictions that make it difficult to reintegrate back into society, particularly with respect to finding quality employment. Even after participating in critical re-entry services, such as those offered by Homeboy Industries , it can be hard for a person with a criminal record to get a job and keep it. At Homeboy Electronics Recycling, we proudly provide job opportunities for people facing systemic barriers to employment, helping them build transferable skills that are needed in the information economy.

Many people returning from incarceration or growing up in lower income neighborhoods have had limited access to and training on computers, the internet, and new technologies (the “digital divide”). While on the job, employees at Homeboy Electronics Recycling gain exposure to these technologies and learn the skills to use them. And, through our online and retail store, we strive to reuse discarded electronics wherever possible, increasing the supply of affordable equipment in our community.