Why Reuse?

September 6, 2016

Today’s Guest Blog article is by Robert J. Klee, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Giving an item a second life by using it again, repairing it or perhaps giving it new purpose, requires fewer resources, less energy and less labor than recycling or disposal.  As a result, reuse is an area of focus in Connecticut’s new, 2016 CT Materials Management Strategy (CMMS). Encouraging people to go beyond recycling to reuse more items in better ways is a key to helping our state achieve its goal of recovering 60% of our waste by 2024.

While packing for a move to a new home a few years ago, my wife and I found lots of stuff we hadn’t used in a while, or even remembered we had.  But much of this stuff definitely had value.  Clothes my boys had outgrown, planters and vases forgotten, dishes that were never given away when we got new ones, books already read, and on and on.  I may not have wanted these items, but all could be reused. 

What does it take to make these items available for reuse? 

Most household goods, toys, books and clothing are accepted by charity thrift stores.  And it’s important to know “textiles” means more than just clothing.  Textiles include shoes, belts, purses, linen and towels, and even stuffed animals that can be donated to many organizations. 

Many community transfer stations also collect books, eyeglasses, and sometimes furniture and household goods.  We can also donate furniture to a wide range of local charities, used building materials are accepted at building material reuse centers, such as Habitat for Humanity ReStores, the reConnstruction Center or Urbanminers.  Art supplies and educational supplies are accepted at creative reuse centers such as Scraptivity and EcoWorks, and there are places to bring used sports equipment, musical instruments and even medical equipment.

A 2011 Minnesota economic development study found that their reuse sector generates $4 billion in gross sales annually and accounts for 1.8 percent of employment people and 1.6 percent of the state’s gross domestic product.  That would translate to about $4 billion (2014 CT GDP) and almost 34,000 employed people (DOL 2014) who work in the reuse sector in Connecticut.

So how can we support reuse in Connecticut? 

DEEP recently awarded a number of grants for municipal reuse programs including a swap shop in Darien, replacing swap sheds in Stafford and Stamford and funds to pay for a mailing to residents in North Haven to increase donations of textiles for reuse.  In addition, our new RecycleCT Foundation funded grants to schools last year, and one included the installation of a water bottle filling station and purchase of refillable water bottles for students. 

Interested in learning more about reuse?  DEEP is working with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Reuse Institute, EPA Region 1, NERC and others coordinate ReuseConex, October 17-19 in Boston, MA.  The theme for this national reuse conference is Leveraging REUSE in a Circular Economy.  You are encouraged to attend and bring home new ideas for reuse in Connecticut.  If you cannot attend, please support your local reuse enterprises!

NERC’s new Reuse Explorations Guide: Innovative Programs & Strategies is now available for free download.

NERC welcomes Guest Blog submissions. To inquire about submitting articles contact Athena Lee Bradley, Projects Manager at athena(at)nerc.org. Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.