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Green Operations

The Sustainability in Prisons Project strives to reduce the environmental, economic and human costs of prisons by implementing sustainable practices, green-collar education programs and ecological research projects. It’s a partnership founded by The Evergreen State College and Washington State Department of Corrections.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (2009-2013)

Inmates are turning lawns into organic gardens at Washington Corrections Center for Women. The vegetables are harvested, prepared and served at the prison.
Organic gardens, Washington Corrections Center for Women
Karen Lockhart tends to a newly planted vegetable bed at Washington Corrections Center for Women.
Valorie Matz tends the organic gardens at Washington Corrections Center for Women.
Karen Lockhart tends to a newly planted vegetable bed at Washington Corrections Center for Women.
Organic greenhouse at Washington Corrections Center for Women.
Organic greenhouse at Washington Corrections Center for Women.
Organic gardens at Washington Corrections Center for Women.
Stephanie Wilkes tends flowers at Washington Corrections Center for Women.
Common area at Washington Corrections Center for Women.
Recent additions to the sustainable operations at Stafford Creek include this vegetable garden, three greenhouses, vermiculture, composting and other initiatives. Inmate participation in these activities can improve behavior and deepen individual and institutional investment in sustainability.
An inmate help contsuct a greenhouse at Stafford Creek.
An imate pots plants while a supervisor looks on at Stafford Creek.
Offenders who work in Stafford Creek's garden learn how to raise vegetables, ornamental flowers and native plants -- diverse skills for the green economy.
Offenders who work in Stafford Creek's garden learn how to raise vegetables, ornamental flowers and native plants -- diverse skills for the green economy.
Inmate Mark Traxler in his cell at Stafford Creek.
"Just because we're in prison doesn't mean we don't appreciate beauty," says offender Mark Traxler.
Offender Edward Turner returns to his cell after working all day in gardens and greenhouses at Stafford Creek.
Inmate Edward Turner returns to his cell after working all day in gardens and greenhouses at Stafford Creek. The average sentence in Washington State is only 23 months, though recidivism remains high. The Sustainability in Prisons Project helps inmates prepare for successful reentry into society through green-collar job training and positive work habits.
Offenders queue up to receive mail in a residence hall at Stafford Creek. As the state’s third largest agency, the Department of Corrections houses, feeds, clothes and provides programs for more than 16,000 inmates in 15 prisons.
Plants grow in newspaper pots at Stafford Creek.
Good for the environment and offender health, motorless lawn mowing is a popular form of exercise at Stafford Creek. Inmates maintain the equipment and may mow the lawn around their living units at a time of their choosing.
Stafford Creek's waste stream is sorted by hand into compostables, recylables and trash. Prior to this system, the facility sent more than 1200 tons of garbage to the landfill annually. Today, more than half of its waste is diverted to recycling or food composting.
Compost operations run by Cedar Creek inmates at Washington Corrections Center.
Compost operations run by Cedar Creek inmates at Washington Corrections Center.
Compost operations run by Cedar Creek inmates at Washington Corrections Center.
Inmates shovel steaming compost at Washington Corrections Center. Nearly 225 tons of food waste was composted at the facility in 2012.
Compost operations run by Cedar Creek inmates at Washington Corrections Center.
Compost operations run by Cedar Creek inmates at Washington Corrections Center.
Working on a new sorting machine for his prison job, an inmate at Stafford Creek removes recyclables from the waste stream.
The recycling center at Stafford Creek employs a dozen inmates in prison jobs.
Pop bottles are one of the many materials removed from the waste stream at Stafford Creek.
With nearly 2000 inmates and 600 employees, Stafford Creek creates more than 1200 tons of solid waste annually. Today, it recycles or composts more than half of that amount and aspires to limit non-recyclable waste through changes in purchasing and the installment of an in-vessel composting system.
Cans are one of the many materials removed from the waste stream at Stafford Creek.
Clothes from prisons across the State are brought to Washington Corrections Center to be sorted and bailed. The clothing is sent to a company that turns it into insulation.
Recycled clothing bales at Washington Corrections Center.
Operations manager Don Carlstad and recycled shoe bales at Washington Corrections Center.
Recycled shoe bales, Washington Corrections Center
Waste stream recycling with Cedar Creek inmates at Washington Corrections Center.
Inmates sort and recycle garbage, food scraps and even clothing at Washington Corrections Center.
Inmate Laura Pearson helps with waste stream recycling at Washington Corrections Center for Women.
Inmates sort recyclables at Washington Corrections Center.
Waste stream recycling with Cedar Creek inmates at Washington Corrections Center.
The bike repair program at Stafford Creek.
At Stafford Creek and the Washington Corrections Center for Women, inmates become the teachers in a highly successful dog-training program funded by donations from Department of Corrections staff. In addition to preparing troubled dogs for adoption – a process noted by bandana-collars that change from red to yellow to green – the program helps inmates develop a sense of empathy, responsibility and environmental stewardship.
Dog training program at Mission Creek Corrections Center.
Dog training program at Mission Creek Corrections Center.
Theresa and Jazzy participat in the dog training program at Mission Creek Corrections Center.
Dog training program at Mission Creek Corrections Center.
At Stafford Creek and the Washington Corrections Center for Women, inmates become the teachers in a highly successful dog-training program funded by donations from Department of Corrections staff. In addition to preparing troubled dogs for adoption -- a process noted by bandana-collars that change from red to yellow to green -- the program helps offenders develop a sense of empathy, responsibility and environmental stewardship.
Washington Corrections Center for Women.
Stafford Creek Corrections Center at dusk.
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