ReUse Centers and Material Exchanges
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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. |
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.
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(in the Northeast)
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| Business Equipment | Clothing |
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(Computers, TV's etc.)
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Furniture & Household Goods |
| Municipal Swap Shops | Sports Equipment |
| Additional Resources |
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EcoWorksCT
262 State Street New Haven, CT 06510 |
Knack: The Art of Clever Reuse
Eastworks Marketplace 116 Pleasant Street Easthampton, MA 01027 Phone: (413) 529-0126 www.knack.org |
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Scraptivity
1020 Farmington Avenue Berlin, CT 06037
Phone: (860) 828-1311
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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
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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 |
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New Paltz Reuse Center |
Everyone's Resource Depot
University of Maine, Farmington Farmington, ME 04938 Phone: (207) 778-7150 |
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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
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The ReCONNstruction Center
65 Burritt Street New Britain, CT 06053
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
Email: nereusect@gmail.com
Website: www.nereuse.us
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ReStore - Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut |
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 |
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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 |
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Eco Building Bargains |
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 |
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ReStore
500 Cottage Grove Road
Bloomfield, CT 06002
Phone: 860-519-0828
Email: restore@hartfordhabitat.org
Website: http://hartfordhabitat.org/restore/
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ReStore - Habitat for Humanity Middlesex County |
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ReNew Building Materials & Salvage, Inc. |
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.
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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.
Website: www.ReuseMarketplace.org
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Western/Central New York Materials Exchange
GLOW Region Solid Waste Management Committee Batavia, NY Phone: (800) 836-1154 Website: www.recycle.net/exch |
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
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.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".
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
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 September 13, 2024