This document discusses various innovative reuse programs and strategies. It defines reuse and describes different types of reuse including adaptive reuse, collaborative consumption, conventional reuse, creative reuse, deconstruction, durables, freecycling, materials exchange, reclamation, rental, refurbishing, remanufacturing, repair, and reusable items. The advantages of reuse are outlined such as job creation, cost savings, and reducing waste. Common sources of reused goods and examples of ongoing reuse programs like reuse sheds, centers, and exchanges are provided. Steps for starting reuse programs and planning reuse events are also outlined.

1. INNOVATIVE REUSE
PROGRAMS AND
STRATEGIES
Athena Lee Bradley
Northeast Recycling Council
www.NERC.org

2. This material is based upon work supported
under a grant by the Utilities Programs,
United States Department of Agriculture.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or
recommendations expressed in this material
are solely the responsibility of the author
and does not necessarily represent the
official view of the Utilities Programs.

3. Reuse – What is it?
• “The use of a product more than once in its same
form for the same or similar purpose.”
• “Reuse involves extending the life of a product by
1) using it more than once (same or new function),
2) repairing it so it can be used longer (replacing
the need for a new item), 3) sharing or renting it, or
4) selling or donating it to another party.”

5. Types of Reuse
• Adaptive Reuse—refurbishing an old/disused
building for a new purpose
• A defunct hotel turned into a seniors housing complex or
an empty big box store is turned into a community center
• Collaborative Consumption (“sharing economy”)—
economic model based on swapping, trading, or
renting
• Conventional Reuse—item is used again, as-is, for
the same function for which it was manufactured
• Clothing, household items, furniture, etc. resale or
exchanges

6. Types of Reuse, cont.
• Creative Reuse (“upcycling” or repurposing)—
bringing a new function to unwanted materials
• Furniture made of old sign posts, jewelry made of scrap
materials
• Deconstruction—selectively dismantling a building
into its components for reuse &/or recycling
• Durables—goods designed to be used for many
years &/or to replace disposables/single-use items
• Metal, glass, or plastic refillable water bottles

7. Types of Reuse, cont.
• Freecycling—giving away unwanted, but usable, items
instead of disposing of them.
• Online groups that help facilitate exchanges for their members
• Materials Exchange (“waste exchange”)—a service that
facilitates the exchange of goods between an entity that has
usable goods they no longer need to another organization
that can use them.
• Typically done through brokering &/or an automated online interface
• Reclamation (“salvage”)—collecting & often reprocessing
discarded materials for reuse
• Old barn wood transformed into “new” flooring

8. Types of Reuse, cont.
• Rental (“sharing economy”)—items are shared &/or rented
among a group of users
• Zip Car, Tool Banks
• Refurbish—used products have either been tested & verified
to function properly as-is, &/or items are repaired ensuring
they function properly
• Refurbished electronics
• Remanufacturing—disassembling, repairing &
reassembling a (used) product so that it matches the
performance of a new product
• Requires the repair &/or replacement of components that are worn
out, obsolete, &/or subject to degradation
• Toner remanufacturing

9. Types of Reuse, cont.
• Repair—Recondition an item to be used for the same
function it was manufactured for
• Clothing & shoe repair
• Reusable—an item is manufactured to be used over & over
again, & replace disposable/single-use items
• Metal water bottles; reusable bags; lunch boxes, etc.

10. Advantages of Reuse
• Conserves energy & raw materials through
purchasing reused items instead of buying new
ones
• Returns products & materials back into the
economy, benefiting society
• Reduces disposal needs &costs
• Fosters job training programs & local job creation
• Some older items were better handcrafted &
appreciate in value

11. Advantages of Reuse
• Provides cost savings for consumers as reused
items are typically less expensive than similar
products purchased new
• “Secondhand” markets for manufacturing
facilities—from textiles to chemical production—
provide access to usable equipment and materials
• Used industrial, construction, and medical
equipment are also readily available

12. Reuse Creates Jobs
• Reusing 10,000 tons of waste creates 41-216 jobs
• Recycling 10,000 tons of waste creates 61-213 jobs
• Incinerating or landfilling 10,000 tons of waste
creates 6 jobs

13. Common Sources of Used Goods
• On-line auctions and markets
• Secondhand stores
• Reuse building material stores
• Classified advertisements
• Estate sales
• Auctions
• Rummage sales
• Yard sales
• Salvage yards
• Materials exchanges

14. Communities gain from keeping
reusable resources local and
supporting local reuse businesses.
Textiles and other items sold to regional
or export markets also return
monies to the local economy.
Reuse, remanufacturing, repair, and
refurbishment of products and parts
economically benefits consumers.

15. Impossible Dream Thrift Store

16. Getting Started
• Consider the goals of the program & the needs of
the community
• Consider setting up a volunteer “reuse committee”
• Program options
• Items to collect
• Plan & design permanent programs, such as reuse sheds
or, types of reuse events & logistics
• Form a pool of volunteers to work on getting the program
started & staffing

17. Reuse Programs

18. Ongoing or “permanent” reuse programs
• Can be provided by municipal governments, such as a reuse
shed at a transfer station
• Nonprofit organizations, including “reuse centers,” teacher
supply depots, & charitable donation retail stores
• For-profit businesses, including textile recyclers
• Schools, such as material or “waste” exchanges
• Other entities-farmer gleaning programs
• Ongoing programs can be any size & may be operated by
paid staff, volunteers, or a combination

19. Examples of ongoing reuse programs
• Reuse shed, swap shop, swap table
• Reuse Centers
• Restores (reused building supply stores)
• Textile drives
• Community reuse guide
• Fix-It Cafes or Fix-It Clinics/Fixer Collectives
• Repair or tool libraries
• Food recovery

20. Examples of ongoing reuse programs
• Bicycle repair/reuse
• Materials exchange
• Reusable bag promotion
• Reuse education—libraries, schools
• Recraft shops
• Teacher’s exchanges/school supply exchanges
• Household good exchanges
• Searchable swap databases/website

21. Community Reuse Guide

22. Reuse sheds
• Reuse or swap sheds or “Take-it or Leave it” areas
• Designed in a variety of ways
• Kitchen & household items, games, tools, toys, etc.
• Or, for specific items, such as books
• Paint & useable household cleaners, and similar products
• Encourage the reuse of items by providing an
exchange site
• Residents may bring unwanted items in good
condition and/or take items at no charge

23. Location, Design, Budget, & Policies
• Where is the best location to open a reuse shed?
The town transfer station? Public Works building?
• Is there an existing structure suitable for the reuse
shed?
• Or, is a building to be purchased or built?
• What funding is available for renovation or
purchase?
• If it’s a new building, where will it be placed?
• What’s the proposed budget?

24. Location, Design…cont.
• What materials are targeted?
• All reusable items?
• Only specified items, such as books? Paint?
• What policies should govern the shed? What items
will not be accepted?
• What design (floor plan, shelving, etc.) makes most
sense, given the space available, materials to be
accepted, etc.
• How will shelving, tables, signage, etc. be obtained
& installed
• How will shelves and tables be labeled?

25. Maintenance & Operation
• Who will staff the shed?
• How will acceptable items be determined? Who will
monitor to ensure unacceptable items are not left?
• How often will it be opened?
• How will products be tracked to ensure items
move?
• Who is responsible for building maintenance?
• Who will be responsible for keeping the area clean
& orderly?

26. Legal Questions, Liabilities, etc.
• What sort of liability release will you have?
• Will signage suffice, or is a written form to be required?
• If the shed is for paint/hazardous items, how
will the usability of items be determined?
• How will proper labeling of products be ensured?
• Will potentially hazardous materials be accepted in
corroded containers? How will these be handled?
• Will there be a sign-in required?

27. Other Issues
• If the shed is for paint and other potentially
hazardous items, consider necessary
precautions, such as having a spill kit in or
near the location?
• Are MSDS sheets kept on hand?
• Will products that emit fumes be accepted? How
about ignitable? Poisonous products? Corrosive
products?
• If so is the shed or swap area ventilated
• Is the staff properly trained to handle these
items?

28. Other Issues
• Will other recordkeeping be required? Who will be
responsible?
• If staffing for the reuse shed is done by volunteers
or an additional staff person, is there a chair
available for them? Other accommodations?
• If the shed is a multi-use shed, for non-hazardous
and hazardous items, plan on clearly having
segregated locations for each category/type of item

29. Reuse Center Start-Up

30. Deconstructing the Interior

31. Progress is Made

34. Creative Reuse Centers
• Scrap stores or teacher resource centers
• Collect & distribute unwanted industrial,
commercial, and residential items
• Services for teachers, artists, families, nonprofit
organizations, & others
• Some focus on supplying materials for art
organizations, while others operate specifically to
benefit teachers & schools

38. Scrap Exchange Retail Store
Artist Marketplace
• Handcrafted artwork and gifts from local artists and makers
Vintage Village
• Vintage, antique, collectible or otherwise uber-cool
Blue Barrel Zone
• Fill a bag with an assortment of materials from our iconic blue
barrels
Crafts
• Craft supplies at 50%-75% less than the big box craft stores
• Craft books, scrapbook supplies, rubber stamps, beads, craft
paint, art supplies, kids crafts, floral supplies and more
Containers
• Variety of container options including plastic containers,
cardboard boxes, gift boxes, glass jars, wood boxes, wicker
baskets, tins, and more

39. Scrap Exchange, cont.
Paper
• New paper, scrap paper, reclaimed paper, mostly priced at $1 per
pound. Some specialty paper may be priced higher
• Paper types include wallpaper, paper samples, office paper,
sticker paper, rolls of paper, vinyl paper, and more
Office Supplies
• Set up your office or get ready for school with paper, envelopes,
manilla folders, desk organizers and more
Sewing and Fabric
• Sewing notions, thread, zippers, yarn, ribbons and trims, fabric by
the yard, fabric remnants, fabric scraps, fabric samples, and more
AV and Electronics
• Assortment of used vinyl record albums, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, as
well as the equipment to play them on. Bulk quantities also
available for art-making!

40. Building Materials Reuse
• Accept donations of or purchase used building materials for
resale
• Some also offer deconstruction services
• Disassembling buildings to recover and reuse their components and
materials for use in new construction and renovation.
• Supplements demolition or replace typical demolition.
• Reduces the need for new building resources
• Reduces landfill/incinerator disposal
• Creates value-added materials for reuse
• Helping to create job opportunities
• Provides communities with relatively low cost building supplies

43. Recycle Ann Arbor’s ReUse Center
• More than 20,000 square feet of store space
• Variety of household & building materials at affordable
prices

45. Book Collections

46. Textiles
• 14.3 million tons of textiles in 2012—5.7 %
of MSW
• 14.4 % of clothing and footwear textiles &
17.8 % of other textiles (sheets/pillowcases )
was recovered for export or reprocessing
• The textile recycling rate (not including
reuse) for all textiles was 15.7 % in 2012 or
around 2.3 million tons

47. Textile Reuse
• Often done happens through charity organizations
who accept a range of items for donation to those in
need and/or resale.
• Items need to be kept clean and free from moisture
• Collectors provide enclosed drop-off boxes for
clothing, shoes, and other textiles
• Can also typically be dropped off at charitable
organization resale stores
• Some communities will provide curbside collection
of textiles, collection at transfer stations

48. Materials Exchanges
• Connects those with unwanted items or materials with
others who are looking for the same type of item or material
• Operate by providing newsletter, catalog, or on-line listings
of "materials available" or "materials wanted"
• Serve as a contact point or broker
• May be member-based or open
• Some will have a fee structure for each exchange, either a set
fee per transaction, or a fee based on a percentage of the net
value of the material
• Other exchanges operate free of charge
• Businesses & industries
• Some allow not-for-profit organizations & even residents

50. Repair Café

52. Fix Mix
• Social gathering where people meet to use and share their
skills to repair items that might otherwise be tossed into a
landfill
• People mend clothes, re-wire lamps, and research and
repair all sorts of items
• Participants will also teach others how to mend and repair
items.
•

53. Reuse Events

54. Reuse Events
• Can be one-time events, semi-annual, or
annual events
• Communities can benefit from pooling
promotional resources and holding events
together
• Events can be held anytime of the year;
evenings and weekends

55. Types of Reuse Events
• Toy Exchange (great for the holidays)
• Kid’s Stuff Exchange
• Durable medical equipment collection (can be
combined with other events – e.g., sharps
collection, unwanted medication collections)
• Community-wide garage sales or Community “Tail-
Gate” Tag Sale
• Reuse/Recycled Art Rally
• Combined “exchanges”: reusable plastics; usable
bikes; plant pot & tray swap/collection

56. Types of Reuse Events
•Halloween costume exchange
•Prom dress/tux exchanges at schools
•ReUse Arts Show and Sale
•Community Trunk Sale & Flea Market
•Drop and Swap Event
•Free piles
•U Price it Sales

57. Initial Planning
•What type of event will be held?
•When and where will the event be held?
•Who will be responsible for planning,
implementing , and staffing the event?
Will volunteers be used? Will additional
services be required, such as hauling
services?

58. Initial Planning
•How much will the event cost?
•How will the event be paid for? Will
admission, participation, or “permit”
fees be charged?
•What will be the measure of success for
the event (e.g., quantity of material,
number of participants, etc.)?

59. Planning and Coordinating
• May take up to three months, depending on event,
local government requirements, experience
• Time for obtaining any permits, insurance, and
other necessary requirements may add to this
• Annual events may require less planning time
• Partnerships may help to reduce needed planning
time
• Define roles, funding, & other responsibilities before
planning begins

60. Type of Event
• Host a drop-off event – one-time or periodic
• Add items to an existing household hazardous
waste drop-off event, such as a spring/fall cleanup
day
• Allow for ongoing, permanent drop-off at existing
recycling, solid waste transfer or household
hazardous waste facilities
• Determine which materials you will collect (e.g.
books, furniture, clothing, bicycles, scrap metal,
etc.)

61. Budget and Funding
• What is the anticipated cost of the event?
• Securing volunteers to help organize and staff an
event
• Arranging for sponsored or donated resources,
such as equipment, advertising, location,
contractual services
• Hauling of leftover items, any needed disposal or recycling

62. Budget Items to Consider
• Public outreach
• Operations costs – labor, equipment and supplies, and
perhaps site rental
• Transportation costs – costs for transportation of donated
items
• Usually billed per mile/hour, including driver labor & shipping
supplies
• Many charities & scrap vendors do not charge
• Are volunteers available to work the day of the event?
• Is a regional event possible?
• Costs could be split

63. Covering Event Costs
• Charge a fee for those that drop off items at an
event that will cost the municipality to recycle
• e.g. electronics and household hazardous products, which
could cover all or part of the applicable costs
• Use government funds (from property tax, waste or
recycling fee revenue) to cover all or part of costs
• Use in-kind contributions from government and
private sources to cover costs (publicity, labor,
equipment)

64. Tasks to Complete Before the Event
Pick the Location for the Event
• Reasonably well known in the community, or at least be
conveniently located and visible to the public.
• Good street access, so people can easily enter the site
without creating backups or traffic delays
• Avoid sites that have only one point of entry, or require
people to make left turns on busy streets
• The space or parking lot should be large enough to
safely accommodate traffic, donation/recycling
vehicles, and event staff

65. Before Event Tasks, cont.
Get Permission to Hold the Event
• Early approval for an event should be a top
priority in the planning process.
• Delays in approval can mean fewer publicity
opportunities due to compressed time lines
• Establish good communications with the property
owner, occupant or manager
• Provide them with good information about the
event and what to expect

66. Before Event Tasks, cont.
• Identify who will be the person to “make the call” for using a
site.
• For example, is it a school principal or will the school district need to
sign off on using a school parking lot?
• Review the event objectives; address questions and
concerns
• Be prepared to answer questions about your event – who, what, when,
where, why & how.
• Have information about events that have been done elsewhere
• Check about insurance requirements
• Check with municipal offices – usually the Planning, Health
or Public Works Department – to determine needed permits
(event, sign or tent permits)

67. Before Event Tasks, cont.
• Identify organizations and businesses that will accept the
materials being collected
• What services you would like the recycler to provide (labor,
equipment, transportation and recycling), including any specific
environmental management needs, such as domestic disassembly
(for consumer electronics)
• Solicit proposal, or bids, as necessary
• Determine short-list based on cost, experience and environmental
performance
• Check references and previous contracts for companies on the short list
• Select a company that provides the best value in terms of your program
goals
• Arrange for trash container for items that can’t be reused or
recycled

68. Before Event Tasks, cont.
Consumer Education and Outreach
• Provide enough information for participants to understand what
they need to do
• Inadequate information can discourage participation or inundate
you with calls
Information to include:
• Event location
• Dates and times for the event
• Products accepted and NOT accepted
• Whether there will be any user fees
• Contact information for more information

69. Before Event Tasks, cont.
Some publicity options:
• Print, radio and television advertisements
• Announcements in local recycling newsletters(including
electronic newsletters and websites), prepared by city or
county recycling offices
• Special inserts in bills (water, utility or solid waste bill)
• Press releases and calls to local media to generate news
reports
• Handouts at local stores and other sites, such as
household hazardous waste collections

70. Timeline
Three Months Before the Event
• Determine type of event, participants (residents,
businesses), & dates & times
• Seek partner commitments to support event
• Decide which items you will collect
• List specific collection, sorting, processing activities needed
• Determine activities you will carry out and activities you
will rely on reuse or recycling organizations to do
• Research permit requirements
• Determine type of publicity to be used

71. Timeline
Two Months Before the Event
• Finalize site location choice & ensure all necessary
permission is in place
• Select reuse organizations
• Arrange any additional recycling services – batteries,
cardboard or paper recycling
• Finalize details of publicity and advertising materials
(locations, times, dates)
• Send out notices and information with long lead times
(newsletters, bill inserts)
• Create on-site signs or handouts to those recycling
participants

72. Timeline
One Month-to-Two Weeks Before the Event
• Confirm data collection needs for measurement and
reporting
• Recruit volunteer staff, if necessary, and provide guidance
on event (e.g., what to wear, traffic control, hours, etc.)
• Confirm insurance coverage is in place
• Contact local police department and traffic control
authorities, as necessary
• Distribute initial consumer notices about recycling
• Send advertising & other publicity copy and art, as
necessary

73. Timeline
One Week Before the Event
• Reconfirm all staffing, equipment, reuse and
recycling service arrangements
• Ensure event staff have access to water and rest
rooms
• Make arrangements for collecting fees, if necessary
(staff, petty cash, security)
• Get supplies – traffic cones, tape, tools,
refreshments
• Send out press release and contact local reporters
several days before event

74. Day Before/Day of the Event
• Follow up on advertising and promotions, contact local news
outlets
• Prepare site early with reuse organizations and other on-site staff
• Re-connect with property management before event begins;
exchange contact information and establish protocol for
addressing unexpected issues
• Coordinate and manage on-site staff
• Estimate is 6-10 staff for events of 150-200 cars served
• Greet participants and interested constituents or supporters
• Collect data, including how much of each material was collected
and participants and any survey information, in order to
document your event to help with future funding and support

75. Follow-up
• Create a report describing the event
• To assist planning, funding requests, cost assessments and
other analysis for future events
• Brief description of program objective of the event
• Dates and locations of the event
• Number of participants
• Types and quantities of materials collected
• Contact information for those seeking more detailed
information about the event
• Draft a press release publicizing the results

76. Follow-up
Communication with Partners
• After the event is complete, it is good to communicate with
all parties involved in the event
• Send appreciation letters to each participating organization
• Establish time frame for the reuse and recycling
organizations to report back to you on types and quantities
of material collected during the event

77. Toy Swap

80. Auction

97. Promotion, Outreach, & Training

100. Measuring the Impact of Reuse
• Number of tons diverted from the landfill
• Avoided disposal costs (donor/seller)
• Avoided purchase costs (recipient/buyer)
• Value of materials donated (donor)
• Revenues earned (donor/seller)
• Jobs created or retained in reuse businesses
• Number of families/individuals/organizations assisted

101. NERC Can Help
We’re experts in
 Waste reduction & recycling
 Recycling program design &
implementation
 Organics management
 Green procurement
 C&D reuse & recycling
 Electronics recycling
 School reuse, recycling &
composting
 Textile recycling programs
 Multi-stakeholder dialogues &
negotiations
 & More!
Fee for service program
makes NERC’s
sustainable materials
management
expertise available at a
reasonable price with
outstanding results
Athena Lee Bradley
athena@nerc.org
802.254.3636
www.nerc.org