The Refinishing Touch, a company that provides sustainable onsite furniture refinishing, upholstery and armoire modifications, has partnered with Federal Prison Industries (also known as UNICOR), a government corporation which provides job skills training to inmates within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, to recycle televisions as part of its e-waste program.

The Refinishing Touch will work with UNICOR to recycle electronics as part of its TV recycling program, designed to complement its armoire conversion services and reduce e-waste.

The new teaming agreement is a logical move for The Refinishing Touch, a General Services Administration (GSA) contracted vendor, as it continues its commitment to the public sector following projects with the White House, US Congress and the US Department of Justice.

In recent years, organizations in both the public and private sector have commissioned The Refinishing Touch for modification of armoires in order to accommodate modern flat screen televisions. The company said that this work, for hotel chains including Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, Wyndham and Starwood, provided the inspiration for the TV recycling initiative.

UNICOR processes more than 37 million pounds of obsolete and excess electronics each year. UNICOR has a restrictive no-landfill policy for e-waste and it’s restrictive export policy ensures compliance with EPA’s export policies.

Robert Tonetti, general manager of recycling group at UNICOR, said: “As the public becomes more aware of the need to recycle obsolete electronic materials, businesses and organizations should establish practical ways to effectively address environmental concerns.

”At UNICOR we meet these needs, teaming with federal and state government agencies, municipal programs, universities, private companies, recyclers, and non-profit organizations. The Refinishing Touch is a welcome addition to this community, with whom we feel a strong sense of collective responsibility to both reduce e-waste nationally and inspire others to do the same.”