PlanetReuse

And The Award Goes To...

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:05:00 +0000

Have you ever been in a room surrounded by dynamic people who are intensely interested in the same topic? The air is different, charged with an energy of a shared passion. That's what DECON13 was like last week. The event, put on by the great folks at the Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) was a shot in the arm for those who attended, renewing our excitement about deconstruction that will last us throughout the year.

A highlight of the conference was the presentation of the BMRA awards. The awards, with super fancy, tool-inspired names honored the best and brightest in our field, and I was happy to see many of my friends walk away with accolades that applauded their commitment to building materials reuse.

I was thrilled to win the Brass Grille Award, an award for excellence in reuse or salvage in green building design. Below is a list of the other winners and links to their respective organizations. Check out innovative ways they are approaching sustainable building.

At DECON13 with Elise Zelechowski and Bob Falk

“Emerald Reciprocating Saw” – Shaun LaBarre, ReSource

“Emerald Screwgun,” – Ted Siebert, Second Use

Both for excellence and/or innovation in the fields of deconstruction and/or building material reuse (BMR) practice.

“Chestnut Mantle” – Elise Zelechowski, ReBuilding Exchange

“Chestnut Shelf” – Dave Bennink, ReUseConsulting

both for excellence in BMR industry promotion or service

“Walnut Gavel” – Deb Stone, CookCounty Department of Environmental Control

“Walnut Mallet” – Kinley Deller, KingCounty, Washington

both for the promotion of progressive governance with respect to BMR, whether legislative, regulatory, or other

“Lapis Medallion”- BMRA Training Committee, with special recognition to Bob Falk, Forest Products Laboratory

“Lapis Pin” - Travis Blake, R3Deconstruction

both for exceptional educational, academic or training activities related to deconstruction and/or BMR.

“Brass Grille” (Continental) - Nathan Benjamin, PlanetReuse / PlanetReuse Marketplace

For excellence in employing BMR or salvage in green building or green design

“Golden Prybar” – Hammer Like aGirl.com

Special recognition for best poster content and display (at Sunday evening opening reception at Second Use)

“Silver Prybar” – Dirk Wassink, SecondUse

Special recognition for exceptional assistance to BMRA or to the Decon ’13 conference committees

“Silver Saw” – Paul Hughes, DeConstructionservices, LLC

Special legacy award for an exceptional practitioner who has passed away

Internships Available

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:12:00 +0000

Want to learn from social entrepreneurs, build your portfolio and have some fun this summer? Apply for one of our four summer internships in:

Video & Multimedia Production – Training, Educational and Promotional Video

Social Media & Internet Marketing

Business / Customer Experience Analyst

Reclaimed Building Materials Brokering & Consulting

VIEW ROLE DESCRIPTIONS

Internships begin June 3rd - August 5th (negotiable). Benefits include:

Mileage reimbursement
Flexible schedule to accommodate part-time job
Office in a downtown KC Crossroads neighborhood entrepreneurship incubator
Work in a dynamic start-up environment
Regular hours for on-site collaboration/instruction
Possible travel
Professional growth
Building your resume/portfolio
Gaining relevant career/industry experience and confidence

Candidates should have relevant educational background and/or experience.

To apply please submit to Willow Lundgren at willow@planetreuse.com:

A professional resume
Cover letter (include one of your most entertaining special skills e.g. crab-walking, plate-spinning, best celebrity impression) - skill must be unrelated to this role
Relevant sample(s) of your work (bonus points awarded -- for real)

The House (and Brewery and School and Office Building) of the Future

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:03:00 +0000

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently announced its annual list of the greenest buildings, sending the eco-design enthusiasts among us into prolonged daydreams of reclaimed timber and geothermal heating.

The Federal Center Building in Seattle received a perfect 100 from Energy Star

The winners, a varied crop ranging from a civil engineer building to an apartment complex for seniors, embody the AIA's commitment to rethinking the way we interact with our built environments, public and private, commercial and residential. Easy on the eyes, as well as the environment, these buildings serve as a great example of what can happen when we design with the future in mind.

Check out this great article over at wired.com for more on the competition and to see the winners up close. Warning: images may cause excessive drooling.

Earth Day 2013

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:57:00 +0000

April 22nd is Earth Day. It's a day to celebrate this little planet of ours and come together in service. At PlanetReuse, we are excited to team up with Sprint to inspire and educate Sprint Employees on the importance of protecting the environment.

Stop by and see our booth, where we'll be discussing the important of reuse, and how you can get involved in the Reuse Revolution. Below is more information on the event. We hope you'll join us as we work together towards a more sustainable future for everyone.

And the Survey Says...

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:48:00 +0000

A big thanks to the 65 Habitat ReStores who participated in our survey conducted between January 15th and March 5th! Below are findings. But first...

...haven't weighed in, but would like to? Please add your voice to the ReStore survey here. There you can also confirm your free listing on the PlanetReuse Marketplace Store Finder.

The results based on 65 reuse center respondents:

The three most important aspects of managing a successful reuse center are:

increasing donations (88% of respondents)
marketing to increase awareness among shoppers (54%)
processing and stocking donations (26%)

When it comes to increasing awareness among shoppers online, sites most relied on are:

Facebook (89%)
Craigslist (80%)
Store website (63%)
Twitter (35%)
Pinterest (23%)
DiggersList (27%)

The average number of items posted online per month includes:

Up to 10 items (31% of respondents)
10 to 25 items (29%)
25 to 50 items (26%)
50 to 100 items (12%)
More than 100 items (2%)

What percentage of respondents track their inventory?

46% do not track inventory
34% track some or all of their inventory
20% track most or all of their inventory
14% track inventory for only a few items
12% do not track inventory, but would like to

Point-of-sale system used by respondents are:

57% use a cash register
29% use QuickBooks Point-of-Sale
18% use "Other"

Accounting software used by respondents are:

62% use Quickbooks Desktop for Windows / PC
25% use "Other"
12% use Quickbooks Online
2% use Quickbooks Desktop for Mac

Are respondents' accounting system integrated with their POS system?

42% manually enter sales data into accounting software
23% manually enter sales data into an Excel or CSV file and then importing it into accounting software
17% use a POS system that directly syncs with their accounting software
8% export sales data from their POS and import it into accounting software

Do respondents sell items online?

68% do not process payments online
11% do not process payments online, but would like to
9% have an e-commerce site and process payments online

Are respondents interested in free webinars? (Selecting more than one checkbox was allowed)

7 respondents were interested in How to start a Facebook page for your reuse center
48 respondents were interested in How to use Facebook to Increase Donations and Sales for your Reuse Center
18 marked "Other"

Will a representative from reuse centers participating in the survey attend the Habitat for Humanity International Affiliates Conference?

34% Yes
34% No
29% Not sure
3% "Other"

Thanks again for participating in our survey!

Calling All ReUse Centers!

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:01:00 +0000

Help boost awareness about the reuse industry and YOUR reuse center by:

Confirming your free Store Finder listing and

participating in a quick 10 question survey.

Since 2008, PlanetReuse has been working with construction and demolition professionals to reuse commercial building materials and keep them out of the landfill. This year, PlanetReuse launched PlanetReuse Marketplace, a website that connects residential reusers with reuse centers. By showcasing reuse centers and their inventories online, PlanetReuse Marketplace is making it easier for everyone to help reduce construction and demolition waste from 40% to 30% by 2020!

In this month’s Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) newsletter, PlanetReuse Marketplace and the BMRA are asking reuse centers…

What are the most important aspects of managing a successful reuse center?
What websites help draw new reusers to your front door?
What business tools are you using to maximize your impact?

Know other reuse centers in your area? Please forward this message to them.

Not a reuse center, but interested in survey findings?

Results of this survey will be published for all members in an upcoming BMRA e-news bulletin and discussed at DECON'13 in Seattle.

Thanks for spreading the word!

From Extra to Extraordinary: Thanksgiving Leftovers

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 18:12:00 +0000

Welcome back! What a wonderful long weekend it was, filled to the brim with family, friends and so…much…food. Now that the Tryptophan coma has worn off, are you wondering what to do with the leftovers, both of the decorative and delicious varieties? We’ve rounded up some great tips on how to recycle, repurpose and reuse those Turkey Day extras (If what you have leftover is green bean casserole, just send it this way, I’ll make sure it goes to a good home).

If you have leftover Food:

LEFTOVER PUMPKIN PIE MILKSHAKE

2 cups vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
1⁄3 cup milk
1⁄4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon

Slice cold baked pumpkin pie, cut into chunks (from 9-inch pie)
Whipped cream, if desired
Cinnamon sticks, if desired

In blender, place ice cream and milk.

Cover and blend on high speed until smooth and creamy.

Add pie chunks; cover and blend until smooth, stopping blender to scrape down sides if necessary.

Pour into 2 glasses; top with sweetened whipped cream and pecans.

Serve immediately. (For future shakes, individually wrap pie slices and store in freezer).

LEFTOVER SWEET POTATO MUFFINS

2 cups self-rising flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 egg
2 cups leftover sweet potatoes, from casserole
3⁄4 cup canola oil

Glaze:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tbsp plus 1-1⁄2 tsp Milk
11⁄2 teaspoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar and cinnamon.

In another bowl, whisk the egg, sweet potatoes and oil.

Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

Fill greased muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over warm muffins. Yield: 2 dozen. Courtesy of Canton Rep News

If you have leftover Pie Tins:

http://www.maryjanesandgaloshes.com

http://homerestyleruk.blogspot.com

http://www.flamingotoes.com

If you have leftover cans:

http://ruffledblog.com

http://www.bhg.com

http://1800recycling.com

A Thankful Heart

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:50:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is next week, can you believe it? For us, this holiday is a reminder to stop and appreciate everything in our lives. Sometimes it's tough, during our hectic day-to-day routines, to pause, look around, and be thankful for all that we have. Friends, family, work that we are passionate about...to call ourselves lucky is an understatement.

In the spirit of being grateful, we’re happy to present a few of our favorite Thanksgiving projects from around the web that reuse, repurpose or upcycle materials. Yesterday was America Recycles Day, which reminded us of the importance of using what we already have around us, helping conserve money, resources and the environment.

These hand made items are sure to give your holiday a unique and personal touch. Enjoy, and here’s wishing you a very happy holiday!

Food for thought: what are you thankful for?

Paint leftover pumpkins from Halloween for an eclectic display

Create a pretty centerpiece with reused jars and cutout letters

Dress up your drinks with this simple DIY

Add a pop of color to your holiday napkins

And this one's just for fun.

Photo credits:

1) http://www.liptsitckandawhitetee.blogspot.com

2) http://www.alamodeus.net/2010/10/its-great-pumpkin.html

3) http://www.liveoriginally.com/category/home/decoration/

4) http://www.decoist.com/2012-11-06/diy-stylish-thanksgiving-crafts/

5) http://www.purlbee.com/linen-thanksgiving-napkins/

Last Minute DIYs for a Spookily Stylish Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:01:00 +0000

Tomorrow is halloween - do you have your costumes assembled, treats baked and decorations made? If not, it's ghoul...I mean cool, we've got you covered!

Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite DIY tricks and tips from around the web, from masks to decor to delicious snacks. With projects made with items you can find around your house, these how to's are easy on the eyes, and the wallet (not to mention the environment). They are sure to turn your Wednesday night into a monster mash. Here's wishing you a frighteningly fun holiday!

http://www.verysarie.com

www.marthastewart.com

http://www.jollymom.com/

http://www.shelterness.com

http://www.sunset.com

Video: SXSWEco Wrap-up and Interview

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:01:00 +0000

Great video of the fantastic Sarah Backhouse from Future360 at the South by Southwest Eco Startup Showcase. Nice interviews with each of the semi-finalists, including our own Nathan Benjamin! Thanks, Sarah!

It's a win-win-win

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 21:25:00 +0000

South by Southwest Eco wrapped Friday. As we landed back in Kansas City, we brought with us a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm. The presentations and panels were enlightening. The speakers were engaging, and people we met are sure to shape the future of sustainability.

For us, an especially exciting part of the Conference was the Startup Showcase. We were thrilled to be among 14 semi-finalists on the cutting edge of clean tech. Each presentation was smart and inspiring. A three-minute pitch to a panel of investors and a live audience landed us among three finalists. When the announcement came that PlanetReuse had won the final 8-minute round followed by Q&A, we couldn't believe it!

We would like to thank SXSWEco conference organizers, Startup Showcase sponsors Autodesk and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the many supporters who encourage us everyday. We believe deeply in our mission and are working every day to make reuse easy and a no-nonsense choice for anyone who wants to save money, time and ultimately the planet. The fact that you do too…well, that's the biggest reward of all.

Thanks.

This trophy has an amazing backstory.
Read it here.

Keep Austin Weird - And Green!

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:39:00 +0000

The South by Southwest Eco conference begins today in Austin, TX. The city's motto is "Keep Austin Weird" and this quirky, creative town has transformed itself into a haven for eco-mided enthusiasts, advocates and industry leaders. The three day event is chock full of panels, discussions and events aimed at creating fresh answers to today's sustainability questions. Want in on the action? You can watch keynote speakers live, on the SXSWEco site.

One of the highlights of the conference is the Startup Showcase, a chance for innovators and entrepreneurs to present their ideas for creating a more eco-friendly world. We are so proud to be presenting at this year's Showcase, and are really looking forward to hearing the amazing things our fellow presenters have been up to. Among the semifinalists are:

KleenSpeed Technologies

Since we're in Texas, we thought it would be a great chance to stop by and see our friends at the Habitat for Humanity ReStores in Dallas and Austin. It's so interesting and inspiring to see how different cities around the country have embraced the Habitat mission. Both cities do a fantastic job of getting the word out about their services and the positive impact their organization has on their local communities.

We think these signs in the Austin ReStore are visually stunning and really drive home the importance of their continued efforts to create decent housing for those in need. And the fact that Dallas is the largest builder of single family homes in the city? Impressive, to say the least. Needless to say, these cities are definitely living up to the saying of "everything is bigger in Texas" - in this case, their commitment to the cause.

It's events like South by Southwest Eco, and the chance to visit ReStores, that lights a fire under us for the future of sustainability. We have a lot of work to do, and a long way to go, but with people like this leading the charge, we're surely heading in the right direction.

Changing the Landscape of Sustainability

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:27:00 +0000

This past weekend was the ASLA Conference, and Nathan Benjamin was lucky enough to address the largest gathering of Landscape Architects in the world. It was a unique chance to take the pulse, and to map out the future of the field. Among the distinguished speakers were Chris DeVolder of 360 Architects, Tobiah Horton of Rutgers University, and Erin Kelly of Next Energy.

Nathan's presentation focused on the roadblocks and misperceptions regarding using reclaimed building materials in commercial and residential projects. He discussed the cost effectiveness, both financial and environmental, of reusing everything from hardwood floors to bricks to stone. Today, 40 percent of landfill waste comes from building construction and demolition. Construction and demolition waste contributes 100 Million tons to US landfill waste annually. This means that every year we trash and bury the equivalent of 273 Empire State Buildings.

Landfills are filling up fast

But there's hope. Nathan presented an alternative to buying new, one in which building materials are recycled into sustainable, polished projects that are good for the bottom line and for the planet. Those building or renovating would think "used" before "new" and those demolishing would think "reuse center" before "trashcan." The ASLA Conference was a great opportunity to connect as an industry, showcase best practices, and present a blueprint for a more sustainable future.

Building a better future, together

World Habitat Day

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 20:36:00 +0000

October 1^st is World Habitat Day, an annual event that reminds us of the importance of safe, decent housing for those in need. This year’s theme is “Many Homes, One Community” and will highlight the critical role of adequate housing in growing neighborhoods.

Volunteers, donors and advocates will participate in events around the globe today in support of Habitat for Humanity’s mission. To find out more about this important organization, or to join in your local chapter’s special activities, head to their website.

Join us as we strive to realize Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Antique, Brass, Gas Lantern

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:38:00 +0000

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Waldo was recently gifted a beautiful, antique, outdoor sconce lantern. We know how many antique lovers there are out there, so we thought we would share a few pictures of this collector's item.

If you're interested in purchasing this one of a kind piece, head over to http://marketplace.planetreuse.com/itemDetails?id=67056# for information on how to contact the store. Profits go towards funding Habitat for Humanity's mission of providing low income families with decent, affordable housing to own.

Item details:

68 inches tall
Brass/Copper Lid, Iron bottom
Hand crafted at the turn of the century
Lantern is made of a single piece of blown glass (there is an almost undetectable, 6 inch crack on the back panel)
Gas Bracketed
Asking price: $700

The large, beautiful lamp

Brass/Copper Top

Gas Bracket

The two distinct pieces

ReuseConex 2012: Growing Reuse Communities

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:51:00 +0000

The 2012 ReuseConex Conference is coming up, October 18-20 in Portland, Oregon and here at PlanetReuse Marketplace, we’re pretty excited. Not only is Portland one of America’s most beautiful and vibrant cities, but the conference is sure to be an inspiring, informative event for those interested in reusing, repurposing and upcycling.

Our head honcho, Nathan Benjamin, will be presenting, as will a plethora of talented, passionate people (see the full lineup here). An upcycling workshop, the Rebel Craft Rumble and keynote speech by ifixit.com CEO Kyle Wiens are sure to make it an educational, fun few days in Oregon. Oh, and there’s door prizes!

For more information, and to join the Reuse Alliance as we discuss the triple bottom line approach to reuse, go to www.reuseconex.org.

PS: Did you know that Portland was almost named Boston? The city’s founders decided it over a flip of a coin. True story.

See you soon, Portland

Wanted: Junior to Mid-Level Java Developer

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 21:11:00 +0000

Help build a technology company in a fast-paced startup environment. We're searching for a Junior- to Mid-Level Java Developer to report to our Chief Technology Officer.

Do you...

...want to work for a company where you can think creatively, shape the future and challenge the impossible?
...dream of being part of building a company, not just having a job?
...thrive on operating in a fast-paced startup environment?

Learn more about this role here. Applications accepted through September 12, 2012.

SXSW Eco StartUp Showcase selects PlanetReuse Marketplace powered by InvenQuery

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:49:00 +0000

PlanetReuse Marketplace powered by InvenQuery was selected as one of the 15 semifinalists that will present at SXSW Eco Startup Showcase presented by Austin Technology Clean Energy Incubator and Austin Energy.

Spotlighting innovation and entrepreneurship, the Startup Showcase is a one-day venture capital pitch competition exhibiting the best of cleantech startups from around the world.

Sarah Backhouse of Future360, will give a tour of clean technology innovation as the 15 semifinalists, handpicked by the Startup Showcase Advisory Board, compete before a live audience of venture investors, potential clients and a panel of Startup Showcase Judges, comprised of cleantech investment experts from top firms across the country.

This inaugural competition will take place on October 4, the second day of SXSW Eco, and includes exclusive networking opportunities for the participants as well as a conference-wide Awards Reception. Join us at SXSW Eco this year!

Here is a list of the amazing 15 Semifinalists:
ActualSun
CEFCO Global Clean Energy
iLumi Solutions Inc.
Kiverdi, Inc.
KleenSpeed Technologies Inc.
Nexus eWater
NuMat Technologies, Inc.
Omni Water Solutions
PlanetReuse
Plovgh
Pvilion
Radiator Labs
Sourcemap
Staxxon LLC
ZETA Comminities

Best of luck to all of the Semifinalists!

PlanetReuse Selected as Grant Recipient for Mission: Small Business grant program from Chase & LivingSocial

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:48:00 +0000

Today, Chase and LivingSocial announced the 12 small businesses that will receive grants of $250,000 each through Mission: Small Business^SM, a grant program designed to increase awareness of the important role small businesses play in local communities. Supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, nearly 70,000 small businesses registered and 3.1 million consumers showed their support by voting for their favorite small businesses.

Out of the 70,000 applicants, PlanetReuse was selected!

We are excited to use the funds to continue to build the reuse industry, reuse economy, and expedite the outreach and acceleration of our the launch of PlanetReuse Marketplace powered by InvenQuery.

Participating small businesses from across the country were evaluated based upon their applications which were required to demonstrate a feasible growth plan, creativity, overall passion for their business and the potential to make a positive impact within the local community.

Selected by a panel of small business experts, the Mission: Small Business grant recipients are:

Bright Power (New York, NY) – Leading provider of energy management solutions that save building owners energy, money and time
Carmin Industries (Jacksonville, AL) – Veteran, woman-owned job shop specializing in parts for architectural, aerospace and defense, and commercial industries
Didrick Medical (Naples, FL) – Supplier of the world’s first active-function artificial finger assembly designed specifically for partial finger amputees
EcoScraps (Provo, UT) – Creator of nutrient-enriched soil from recycled fruits and vegetables, which grows healthy plants in an environmentally friendly way
Ellessco LLC (Ventura, CA) – Producer of reusable travel bags with inflatable air chambers that protect and insulate liquids and fragile items
Lasher Sport (Anchorage, AK) – Producer of custom, diverse, high quality, highly functional and great looking wheelchairs, sports chairs and handcycles for the disabled community
PlanetReuse^®(Kansas City, MO) – Consulting and brokering company that matches materials with designers, builders and owners to serve LEED efforts and sustain the planet while cutting costs
RonWear Port-able Clothing^® (Beachwood, OH) – Clothing manufacturer of stylish and functional premium “treatmentwear” for men and women facing health challenges
Skillastics^® (Corona, CA) – Product manufacturer dedicated to fighting child obesity through fitness and sport-specific activity games for varying ages, fitness levels and group sizes
The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen™ (San Francisco, CA) – The first restaurant in San Francisco dedicated to serving award-winning grilled cheese sandwiches using the best quality local and unique ingredients
UsedCardboardBoxes.com (Los Angeles, CA) – Firm dedicated to buying quality used boxes from companies and reselling as a low-cost, eco-friendly alternative to buying new boxes
Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream (Brooklyn, NY) – Creator of simple ice creams made through traditional methods that celebrate the best ingredients from small producers

Thank you to everyone who voted for PlanetReuse! You can learn more here on a link for more information: msn MONEY.

Increase Profits with Recycling and Reuse Best Practices

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:46:00 +0000

There's a great article on Triple Pundit on how to make money by recycling and reusing construction material. It comes as a result of re-occurring questions that many designers, home owners, architects, developers, builders and many others about what to do with stuff coming out of projects.

PlanetReuse would like to thank Bill Roth, Founder of Earth 2017, for his time, interest and continued outreach to help raise awareness about building material reuse.

Here is preview of the article and a link for the balance of the piece, including a link to a short video from our discussion with Bill at Sustainable Brands '12 earlier this year:

"Construction managers’ success in recycling and re-purposing materials/fixtures can make the difference on whether a construction project comes in on budget in today’s still-depressed construction industry. Two factors are driving this trend. The first is the increasing value real estate buyers and renters place upon green labeled buildings. In California a green labeled home sells for a 9 percent premium. In the commercial building market the increasing numbers of companies focused on operational efficiency has created a strong rental market for USGBC LEED certified buildings. A key feature of LEED certification and other green labeled buildings is the reuse of materials, fixtures and buildings.

Construction recycling/reuse best practices
The other major driver is a growing market in recycled materials and reusable fixtures. The construction industry uses more materials by weight than any other industry in the United States producing 325 million tons of recoverable construction and demolition materials. Approximately 8,000 lbs of waste are thrown into the landfill during the construction of a 2,000 square foot home. That is a lot of construction dollars that will either be lost to landfill tipping fees or gained by successfully selling this material for recycling or reuse."

Here's a link to the rest of Bill's article. Enjoy!

We're Hiring!

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:50:00 +0000

We're hiring.

Today, roughly forty percent (40%) of U.S. landfill waste comes from building construction and demolition. When it comes to construction and demolition projects, our aim is to make “reuse” the obvious alternative to the landfill, and to make finding and using reclaimed materials online as simple as buying new materials from big box stores.

We are seeking two new team members to play critical roles in tackling this waste problem:

- A Social Media / Public Relations / Marketing Associate who can also pitch in with serving our very first reuse center customers; and

- A Reclaimed Materials Broker and Consultant to help connect the design and deconstruction/demolition community to make material reuse easier.

Find out how to apply here. Or please spread the word.

Garbage or Art?

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:12:00 +0000

Artist Susanna Kumschick, along with the lighting design team, Luzinterruptius, partnered together to design and create Plastic Garbage Guarding the Museum. The art piece was part of the Oh Plastiksack! exhibit at the Gewerbemusem in Switzerland. The exhibit is a 4 month artistic exploration of waste in society with the focus on plastic bags as the art medium

Oh Plastiksack! points out how in regards to consumer behavior, plastic bags are a symbol of advertise, identity, and status and explores the how society views garbage. It forces the viewer to take something that is a social stigma of filth and contamination and to see it as art that is alluring and meaningful.

Oh Plastiksack! also explores the relationship of society and the environment with the presence of waste in everyday life as well as the cultural use of using and disgarding. To encourage recycling, Gewerbemuseum gave free admission into the museum to those who donated recycled plastic bags to the museum. The museum collected 5,000 bags that were used for the exhibit.

Plastic Garbage Guarding the Museum was designed with change in mind and to look best at the beginning of the exhibit with the anticipation of it looking "dicrepit" at the end of the exhibit. The significance of the installation is in "how it will evolve with time and how the public will react" to the changes. For this reason, the designers chose to place the installation outdoors at the entrance of the museum.

The Oh Plastiksack! exhibit is a powerful testimony of how everyday items that typically become garbage, can be transformed into something beautiful.

2012 Olympics Games Divert Landfill through Reuse and Recycling

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:45:00 +0000

The 2012 London Olympics and the London Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (LOCOG) has made it their goal to become known as the “greenest games in history” and are taking major steps to ensure that that goal is achieved. LOCOG has worked hard to ensure that any possible waste from the entire event is “reused” or “recycled.”

The site chosen for the 2012 Olympic Stadium in London was a previously developed site that had been labeled a “brownfield,” a contaminated site with previous industrial development. Prior to construction of the arena, the site had to be cleaned, decontaminated, and tested for purification. Doing so kept two million tons of contaminated soil from going to the landfill. The target goal for this stage of construction was to reuse 80% of the soil. The goal was surpassed and the project reused 85% of the existing, previously contaminated soil.

Construction of the Olympic Stadium, was also designed with sustainability in mind. Populous, the design team for the structure, incorporated into the design, the reuse of confiscated guns. Over the year, the Metropolitan Police colledted over 52 tons of metal from guns and knives. That material was diverted from the landfill and instead was melted and used in the structure.

LOCAG’s goal for construction of the Olympic Stadium was to send zero waste to the landfill. By the end of construction, ninety percent of the construction waste had either been reused or been recycled. In addition to salvaging excess construction materials, 20% of the materials used in the construction of the venues were recycled materials.

In addition to the “green” construction efforts, LOCOG has also been teaming up and encouraging other supporters of the Olympic Games to raise public awareness for the need to go green. Coca-Cola has promised to recycle and reuse all the plastic of their products as well as other products from the events and will reuse the plastic for new bottles. Local packaging companies have teamed up with LOCOG to ensure that all packaging for the 2012 games will be made of compostable materials. Through the duration of the Olympic Games, it is expected that 3600 tons of waste will be produced from packaging alone which will be diverted from a landfill.

LOCOG’s goal for the 2012 Games is zero waste to the landfill, however, have pledged that 70% of will be reused, recycled, or composted. LOCOG’s goals to keep the 2012 Olympic Games green and their efforts to involve other supporters make the games not only the greenest games in history, but also the largest green effort.

Thanks to the 2012 Olypmics for supporting and promoting sustainability and reuse!

Old Materials Reimagined in Omaha Designer Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 18:51:00 +0000

Westroads Mall and Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Omaha have teamed up on a Designer Challenge. Check out a sample of the design vignettes. For every vote by text by July 11, Westroads Mall is donating $1 to Habitat for Humanity. The winning design will be revealed on the Westroads Mall Facebook page on July 11, 2012.

Sustainable Brands 2012 - PlanetReuse Marketplace

noreply@blogger.com (PlanetReuse) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:10:00 +0000

In June, we attended the Sustainable Brands Conference in San Diego, CA. This conference brings together major brands who care about their impact on environment and society. PlanetReuse participated in the conference's Causeway Initiative that aimed to promote partnerships between not-for-profits or social enterprises with large companies to bring a positive, social and environmental change. PlanetReuse presented alongside organizations such as Sierra Club, Forest Stewardship Council, and World Wildlife Fund and urged companies to source reclaimed materials for new projects and to deconstruct for reuse.

PlanetReuse Marketplace powered by InvenQuery was selected as a finalist in the Sustainable Brands Innovation Open competition. PlanetReuse Marketplace was one of six companies chosen from more than one hundred applicants to pitch its business concept to a panel of judges. After an initial round of presentations PlanetReuse Marketplace was included in the top four companies and given the opportunity to present on the main conference stage. You can view our four-minute pitch before a live audience here.

We would like to congradulate the winner of the Innovation Open, Ecofiltro, a social enterprise that sells low cost water filtration systems in the third world. Learn about Ecofiltro's impact.

Participation in Sustainable Brands '12 and the Innovation Open provided an excellent opportunity to meet many other aspiring entrepreneurs that are doing amazing things, spread the word about building materials reuse and introduce major corporations to a variety of reuse possibilities.