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ReUse Centers and Material Exchanges

"Waste is a misplaced resource."
                                                            ~ Vermont Business Materials Exchange

 

GLOSSARY
ReUse Centers – a place, such as a store or warehouse, where used items can be purchased.  Thrift and consignment stores that sell used clothing and household goods are examples of reuse centers.  There are also reuse centers that specialize in specific genres of goods, like art supplies, building materials and electronics.

 

Material Exchanges – usually this is a referral or listing service that helps connect those with unwanted materials to those looking for the same type of material.  Usually, exchanges serve as a contact point or broker and do not physically handle materials. Some examples of regional on-line material exchanges include Freecycle, Craigslist, and eBay.

It’s better to reduce waste before it is generated, reuse a resource or product to lengthen its life and when the first two are not possible, recycle or compost. An additional ‘R’ often overlooked is ‘Repair’.

Consider buying goods that will have a long life; avoiding one-use items. Well made products usually can be fixed and repaired. There are professionals and artisans that will repair a number of goods including cars, appliances, shoes, leather goods, jewelry, lamps, books, and clothing. Look for them in the yellow pages or an on-line search engine.

Donating and buying reusable goods not only helps protect the environment, it also helps your local economy.

(in the Northeast)
Business Equipment Clothing
(Computers, TV's etc.)
Furniture & Household Goods
Municipal Swap Shops Sports Equipment
Additional Resources

 

EcoWorksCT
262 State Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Phone:  (203) 498-0710
Email: ecoworksct@gmail.com
www.ecoworksct.org
Knack: The Art of Clever Reuse
Eastworks Marketplace
116 Pleasant Street
Easthampton, MA 01027
Phone: (413) 529-0126
www.knack.org
Scraptivity
1020 Farmington Avenue
Berlin, CT 06037
Phone:  (860) 828-1311
Resources for Rhode Island Education
PO Box 6264
Spooner Street at 95 Hathaway Ctr, Suite 3
Providence, RI 02940
Phone: (401) 781-1521
Website:  www.rrie.org
Materials for the Arts
33-00 Northern Blvd., 3rd floor
Long Island City, NY 11101
Phone:  (718)  729-3001
Email:   info@mfta.org
Website:  www.mfta.org

The Beautiful Stuff Project
137 Broadway
East Somerville, MA 02145
Phone:  (617) 875-9204
Email:  mseevak@aol.com
http://beautifulstuffproject.com

New Paltz Reuse Center
3 Clearwater Road
New Paltz, NY 12361
Phone:  (845) 255-8456
Email:  recycling@townofnewpaltz.org
http://www.newpaltzreuse.org/  

Everyone's Resource Depot
University of Maine, Farmington
Farmington, ME 04938
Phone:  (207) 778-7150
The Scrap Exchange
2050 Chapel Hill Road
Durham, NC 27707
919-688-6960
email: store@scrapexchange.org
www.scrapexchange.org
Scroungers’ Center for Reusable Art Parts (SCRAP)
834 Toland Street
San Francisco, CA 94124
Phone: (415) 647-1746
Email: scrap@scrap-sf.org
www.scrap-sf.org 

 

ReUse Centers - Building Materials in the Northeast

The ReCONNstruction Center
731 New Britain Avenue
Twin City Plaza
Newington, CT 06111
Phone:  (860) 597-3390
Email:
info@reconnstructioncenter.org
Website: www.reconnstructioncenter.org
New England ReUse
400 Sackett Point Road
North Haven, CT 06473
Phone: (203)230-2647
Website:  www.nereuse.us

ReStore - Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut
808 Norwich Road
Plainfield, CT 06374
Phone:  (860) 564-7507
Email:  restorene@habitatect.org
Website: http://www.habitatect.org/restore

ReStore - Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut
82 Boston Post Road
Waterford, CT 06385
Phone:  (860) 437-3422
Email:  restorese@habitatect.org
Website: http://www.habitatect.org/restore
ReStore – Housatonic Habitat for Humanity
51 Austin Street
Danbury, CT 06811
Phone: (203) 205-0952
Email: restore@Housatonichabitat.org
Website:  www.housatonichabitat.org

ReStore – Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County
1785 Stratford Ave.
Stratford, CT 06615
Phone:  (203) 383-4358
Email:  donate@restorecfc.org
Website:  fairfieldcountyrestore.org

Eco Building Bargains 
83 Warwick Street 
Springfield, MA  01104
Phone:  (413) 788-6900
Email: restore@cetonline.org
Website: www.ecobuildingbargains.org

Boston ReStore, Inc.
10 Harvard Street; PO Box 240881
Dorchester, MA 02124
Phone:  (617) 288-8400 Email:  bperkins@bostonrestore.org
Website: www.bostonrestore.org
Reuse Center at Boston Building Material Resources
100 Terrace Street
Roxbury, MA 02120
Phone:  (617) 442-2262
Website: www.bostonbuildingresources.com

Big Reuse Queens
3-17 26th Avenue
Astoria, NY 11102
Phone:  (718) 777-0132, x2
Email:  queens@bigreuse.org
Website: www.bigreuse.org

ReStore
500 Cottage Grove Road
Bloomfield, CT  06002
Phone: 860-519-0828

ReStore - Habitat for Humanity Middlesex County
The Crossroads at Cromwell Shopping Plaza
34 Shunpike Road
Cromwell, CT 06416
Phone:  (860) 788-6483
Email: info@HabitatMiddlesex.org www.habitatmiddlesex.org/restore

ReNew Building Materials & Salvage, Inc.
Putney Road (Opposite Shell)
16 Town Crier Drive #2 Brattleboro VT 05301-8669
Phone: (802) 246-2400
Website: www.renewsalvage.org

Material Exchanges

Some of these exchanges limit their services to specific geographic areas or user groups.  Additional listings can be found through U.S. EPA and the Northeast Recycling Council material exchange webpages.

New York Wa$teMatch
c/o MEDP
City College of New York
Phone: 212-650-5832
Email: info@wastematch.org
Website: www.wastematch.org
Reuse Marketplace
This is a regional on-line material exchange sponsored by the states of CT, DE, MA, NJ, NY, RI, and VT and also by several corporations.  This site replaced or enhanced existing exchanges within those states.
Western/Central New York Materials Exchange
GLOW Region Solid Waste Management Committee
Batavia, NY
Phone: (800) 836-1154
Website: www.recycle.net/exch

Furniture and Household Goods

Thrift stores like Goodwill Industries and Salvation Army accept donations of good usable furniture and household items and sell these goods at low cost. Books can also be donated to Better World Books.

In Connecticut, we have a thrift stores and consignment shops in many towns that are run by local organizations and private individuals. Try the yellow pages, on-line or in your telephone book under "thrift" and "consignment".

Some on-line sources to give or receive used materials for free or low-cost include yahoo groups like Freecycle  and ReUseIt Network (RIN) or on-line classifieds for free stuff or for selling goods include Craigslist and eBay.


Business Equipment

Business equipment, furniture and supplies are also often accepted by local thrift stores and consignment shops, including Goodwill Industries and Salvation Army.  Some on-line sources to give or receive used materials for free or low-cost include yahoo groups like Freecycle and ReUseIt Network  (RIN) or on-line classifieds for free stuff or for selling goods include Craigslist and eBay.
 

Sports Equipment

Reuse stores are not just for non-profit organizations. Stores selling/buying/trading used sports equipment are on the rise, including Play it Again Sports  found throughout the country including stores in CT. Another option is Replay Sports in Groton, CT.
Some on-line sources to give or receive used materials for free or low-cost include yahoo groups like Freecycle and ReUseIt Network (RIN) or on-line classifieds for free stuff or for selling goods include Craigslist and eBay.


Electronics (Computers, TV's, etc.)

If you have a computer that is still in good working order, you may be able to donate it to a school, or to an organization that distributes computers to schools. Some organizations provide technology not only to schools, but will also provide equipment to non-profits and/or public agencies that provide services to the needy, the unemployed or the disabled.

Each organization that promotes electronics reuse has very specific requirements regarding the equipment that they accept, so call first to find out if your used equipment is a good fit with that organization’s needs. If your computer is an older model that may not meet the needs of today’s school system, but still works well, you may want to consider donating it to a local nursery school where speed and issues such as internet access are not an important consideration.  You may also want to contact other local charitable organizations such as Goodwill Industries or Salvation Army .  For national computer reuse options visit the National Cristina Foundation.

Don’t trash your e-waste!  Learn more about electronic waste to ensure that you are disposing of your electronic devices properly.

Clothing

Thrift stores like Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries accept donations of good usable clothing and sell goods at low cost. In Connecticut, we have a thrift stores and consignment shops in many towns that are run by local organizations and private individuals. Try the yellow pages, on-line or in your telephone book under "thrift" and "consignment".

Municipal Swap Shops

Many communities with solid waste or recycling transfer stations have Swap Shops, a barn, shed or other building where residents may take or leave useable household items. Contact your local recycling coordinator to learn if you have a Swap Shop in your community. If not, encourage them to do so.  It can become a hub for community activity! Swap Shops should be in a dedicated area, shed or building at the Transfer Station. Learn more by reading CET’s Swap Depot Starter Kit.

Additional Resources

NERC: Materials Exchanges in the Northeast – includes an extensive list of organizations and groups that handle a wide range of materials including food, art supplies, medical equipment and building materials.

CT DEEP: A Guide to Local Building Material Reuse Centers  pdf color brochure

EPA: Reuse in New England – Materials Exchanges

SWIX: Electronic Recycling Exchange

NERC: Materials Exchange Marketing Plan

NERC: State Surplus Property Fact Sheets & Contact Information

CET: How to start a Swap Shop in your town

EPA: Resource Guide for Donation Opportunities

NERC: Environmental Benefits Calculator: Quantifying the Benefits of Waste Reduction and Recycling

IRN: The Institution Recycling Network

EPA: Materials and Waste Exchanges

EPA: Surplus Inventory for Arts & Education

Recycler’s World: Information and Materials Exchange Directory

ReDO:  Reuse Development Organization

East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse

Reuse Alliance

 

Disclaimer: The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) maintains the content on this web page to enhance public access to information and facilitate understanding of waste reduction, reuse and recycling. The DEEP is not recommending these resources over any others and recognizes these represent only a partial listing of resources on this subject.

Reduce/Reuse/Recycle

Content Last Updated February 2020