At U.S. Rubber Recycling 49% of its workforce, who were previously incarcerated, provide much needed skills.
U.S. Rubber Recycling Inc. is in the business of giving raw materials a second life, so it’s not surprising that many of its employees have also been given a second chance at life.
The company recycles tires into sports flooring, acoustical underlayment and vegetation control matting. As California's largest user of recycled crumb rubber, the company diverted 9.3 million pounds of discarded tires away from local landfills in 2020.
“Embedding the sustainable practice of waste diversion into our business model is only half the story,” explains CEO Jeff Baldassari. “It’s our workforce that has been given a second chance after their incarceration that we are most proud of.”
Bounce Back
When Baldassari joined the company in 2019 and overhauled its business focus, causing sales to grow exponentially, he also formalized the company practice of hiring formerly incarcerated people. The program, Bounce Back, which began in the 1990s, is based on the company’s belief that the past does not equal the future. “We believe that people should be given a second chance,” says Baldassari. “The most important way to do that is to provide employment which helps people rebuild their lives. And, it has helped us build up our company.”
To meet the needs of this particular workforce an employer needs to provide a work environment where employees are appreciated, respected, and held accountable, says Leslie Morales, the company’s vice president of operations. She has been instrumental in providing this group of talent with the support necessary for success.
“I used to have clean hands and dirty money, but now I have dirty hands and clean money,” says Thomas Urloste, a machine operator. “When this company hired me, they believed in me, gave me the ball and let me run for a touchdown. They put responsibility in my hands, trained me and I know what is expected of me. Every week I meet my goals.”
Being given responsibility is key says Urloste, because not many employers are willing to take a chance on those who were formerly incarcerated. But taking a chance has paid off well for both U.S. Rubber and its employees. Urloste likes the challenge of always improving his performance and in the year that he has been with the company, he has received a raise.
