The people behind WALTER — driven by a shared belief that environmental responsibility and social impact belong together.
Who We Are
Certified recycling and green jobs — one benefit corporation.
WALTER (Working And Learning Together Environmental Recycling) is an award-winning benefit corporation on a mission to reduce environmental impact while creating green jobs for young adults facing persistent barriers to employment.
As both a certified recycling provider and a purpose-driven social enterprise, we help clients meet their sustainability goals — responsibly managing waste, protecting brands, and promoting circularity — while building career pathways for the people most often left behind in our economy.
200+
Enterprise clients served across NYC
R2v3
Certified — the highest global standard for electronics recycling
2022
Founded in Brooklyn, New York as a benefit corporation
ISO
9001, 14001 & 45001 certified operations
Our missions
We deliver the highest-quality recycling and waste management services—from secure material handling and easy pickup scheduling to tailored reporting and compliance. But what truly sets WALTER apart is our deep commitment to inclusive hiring.
We actively recruit and train young adults facing systemic barriers to employment—offering them meaningful work, marketable skills, and long-term opportunity in the green economy.
Our vision
We believe the circular economy should benefit both the planet and the people who live on it.
At WALTER, we envision a world where environmental impact and economic opportunity are aligned. Our targeted open-hiring model connects underserved young adults with stable, mission-driven careers in recycling and environmental services—turning waste into new beginnings and impact into equity.
Our story
Founded in 2022 in Brooklyn, New York, WALTER was born from decades of on-the-ground experience.
Founder Guillaume Charvon spent over twenty years working with marginalized youth people across France, Burkina Faso, and the U.S.—including years directing the Story Garden and street libraries for families in Brownsville with ATD Fourth World. He saw firsthand the barriers these young people faced—and the opportunity to do better.
WALTER was created to make that vision real—by bridging environmental stewardship with inclusive economic opportunity, and proving that a better future is not only possible, but scalable.
What if the challenge of waste could become a pathway to work?
What if sustainability and social justice could grow side by side?
Our Team
Meet the Team
Guillaume Charvon
Founder & CEOGuillaume founded WALTER in 2022 after more than twenty years of frontline work with marginalized communities across France, Burkina Faso, and the United States. As a former director of the Story Garden program with ATD Fourth World in Brownsville, Brooklyn, he witnessed firsthand the barriers young people face when trying to enter the workforce.
His vision for WALTER was born from a simple question: what if the growing challenge of electronic waste could become a pathway to meaningful employment? Under his leadership, WALTER has grown into a certified benefit corporation that pairs enterprise-grade recycling services with an open-hiring model for young adults facing systemic barriers.
Beau Chamale
COOBeau oversees day-to-day operations at WALTER's Brooklyn facility, ensuring every piece of equipment is tracked, processed, and reported with full chain-of-custody integrity. With a background in logistics and environmental compliance, he brings operational discipline and a genuine commitment to doing things right.
From managing pickup schedules across the five boroughs to coordinating data destruction protocols, Beau makes sure that WALTER's promises to clients translate into measurable results on the ground.
Julio
Floor PartnerWorking at WALTER, my people skills changed. I can communicate better with people I've never met.
Before WALTER, I was trying to find what to do with my life. And then when I came to WALTER, my life, I can say, got elevated because now I'm more mature.
My hopes for the future? For WALTER, I want to see 50 employees with three big warehouses. And for myself, I want to see myself doing something important for WALTER.
Obie
Floor PartnerI feel like our mission is to better the Earth. It's an environmental mission. By recycling electronics, plastic, metal, and paper, we keep things out of the landfill to make the Earth a better place. We are really serious about our mission.
What I like about WALTER is that it's a startup. WALTER cares about their employees and cares more than just getting the work done, but also cares about what's going on in their personal lives and everything. It's really a cool experience being a part of it. People can count on me at WALTER.
My daughter is the number one thing that motivates me to work at WALTER. I just try to work hard and to give her the proper life that she needs.
Justin
Baler Operator — Plastics WrapsBefore WALTER, I was staying in a shelter and didn't have a phone or phone number. It was hard to find any jobs because I couldn't call back the employers.
Working at WALTER helped me get back on my feet. I've been able to buy clothes, shoes, and even start saving.
This job keeps me going, I hope to grow into a higher position here one day. I've also learned how to sort waste, use a baler, and take responsibility in my work.
A Public Service Company
WALTER operates as a benefit corporation under New York State law — a special corporate structure that legally requires the company to balance profit with purpose. Unlike traditional corporations, benefit corporations are held to a higher standard of social and environmental accountability.
This structure means that every business decision at WALTER — from how we hire to how we handle materials — is evaluated not just on financial return, but on its impact on workers, communities, and the environment. It is the legal backbone of our commitment to creating green jobs while delivering responsible recycling services.
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