Reuse Warehouse Newsletter * January 2010
The City of Houston Building Materials Reuse Warehouse benefits the community by providing storage space for excess building materials that would otherwise be dumped in local landfills. We accept material from individuals, supply companies, and builders, and make it freely available for reuse by any non-profit organization.
Photos of many current Reuse Warehouse inventory items can be found here. We currently have lumber, bricks, siding, stage sets, lighting, plumbing, doors, hardware, ceramic tile, shelving, heavy timber, countertops, and much much more!
* Warehouse News
* Upcoming Events
* Volunteer Spotlight
* The Non-Profit Club
* The Ton Club
* Reuse Partners
* Community Spotlight
* Media
* Contact Us
The City of Houston Building Materials Reuse Warehouse is funded in part by a grant from the Houston Galveston Area Council, a region-wide voluntary association of local governments in the 13-county Gulf Coast Planning region of Texas.
To make a donation to Habitat for Humanity specifically for the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti, please click HERE.
* Warehouse News
The Reuse Warehouse and the Great Blue Whale
What does the Reuse Warehouse have in common with the great blue whale? Blue Whales, the largest animals to roam the earth, typically weigh 140 tons and eat up to 7 tons of food per day. To date, the Reuse Warehouse has diverted over 140 tons, the weight of one blue whale, in construction material from Houston area landfills. We have diverted 6 tons of reusable lumber from landfills in a single day. We might not be the largest recycling/community service organization to roam the earth, but give us time!
Incoming Donations
First and foremost, we appreciate the citizens of Houston who gather up their excess construction material, pack it in their cars and trucks, and bring it to the Reuse Warehouse so we, in turn, can make it available to non-profit organizations. Our city does not own any of its own landfills and must pay a fee for every container it tilts. When conscientious citizens bring material to the warehouse, they save us all money in two ways. We pay for fewer container tipping fees and helps to make more time and fuel available for the warehouse staff and equipment. From loads ranging from one brick to several trailer loads, you make a big difference.
KIAH TV Channel 39 recently donated their entire television studio to the Reuse Warehouse instead of sending to a landfill and videotaped the entire event. Going Green with Yolanda Green came out to the warehouse and interviewed Sarah Mason, the creative force behind the Reuse Warehouse, and the rest of the crew. The show will air at noon on Saturday and 10am on Sunday in mid to late January. Non-profit organizations have already expressed interest in the studio set. We thank everyone at KIAH for their generosity and kindness.
Justin Gordon Homes does a whale of a job for the warehouse project. Mr. Gordon has donated his 3rd and 4th house to the Reuse Warehouse to be deconstructed prior to demolition. More are planned. Dan Havel and Dean Ruck, the 2008 AIA artists of the year wasted no time harvesting lots of excellent pine siding from house # 3 for their next project. Mr. Gordon believes in our cause and constantly looks for ways to help the project. In addition to donating houses and material, Justin is looking into hiring workers to deconstruct houses more and demolish less. Volunteers are still needed and appreciated on these projects.
Hats off to the Brothers Strong Residential Design Build team, Michael and Tommy. The Brothers Strong donated over 4 tons of high quality lumber, siding, and heavy timber to the warehouse instead of throwing it into a landfill. About half of the material has already gone to non-profits. Michael Strong is the same person who features the Reuse Warehouse on his radio show the Home Improvement Hotline, 9-11am Saturdays on 950AM with Bob Birner.
A constant thanks goes out to JunkGoesGreen for bringing in household construction waste on an ongoing basis. There should be more firms like them.
Outgoing Donations to Non-Profits
Tis' better to give than receive, especially in December. Last month was our first month to give more material to non-profits than we took in from the public. We took in 17 tons and gave out 18 tons. There is nothing wrong with that as it gives Dave Barrows, our materials manager, and Joyce Powell, our main volunteer, more room to perform their magic. It also gives us more room to take in the next big load. Many thanks to the non-profit organization Texas Adaptive Aquatics Inc.. TAA is the very first non-profit ever to acquire diverted construction material from the Reuse Warehouse. They recently made reuse of 7 tons, mainly lumber and concrete. AIDS Housing Coalition Houston also reused several tons of lumber, plumbing fixtures and other material. Both TAA and AHCH gallantly carted away entire bundles of the TruTimber/Preload Inc. lumber we acquired last month, nails and all. We hope this lumber works the best for their causes.
We also have great ongoing relationships with Habitat for Humanity International Inc. and Historic Houston. Both organizations acquire material from the warehouse and make it available and affordable to the general public. In turn, they help us to manage challenging amounts of material as we make acquisitions.
All material acquisitions, large and small, are greatly appreciated!
The Warehouse
Throughout the month of January, the Reuse Warehouse is open from 9am-12pm on Saturdays to take in and recycle your Christmas trees. Trees must not have flocking. If the trees have lights, fear not. We will take the lights off, weigh them, and donate them to someone! Everyone gets a brochure and a tour of the warehouse if they want it.
Progress is coming along on the depository here. Soon, the North Main Center will provide a place for heavy trash and metal recycling as well as reusable building materials. A recycling center and electronic center are also planned for our location.
We will soon have much needed ventilation fans and vents thanks to our excellent COH Solid Waste Management capital improvements team.
Pilot Programs
The Reuse Warehouse has three new pilot programs. We will make adjustments when necessary over time.
Shop On Line * Photos of many current inventory items can be found HERE. Layaway Plan * Non-profits may temporarily store material at the warehouse in exchange for volunteer hours spent. For details, please call 281-814-3324.
Alert List * We strive to divert all reusable material from landfills. At times, our decision to take material depends on knowledge of a stated need for that material. Non-profit organizations are encouraged to email their needs for particular materials.
* Upcoming Events
Friday De-Nail-a-Thons - The Reuse Warehouse is partnering with Living Paradigm to take the nails out of the large amount of diverted lumber we have at the warehouse. If you would like to volunteer, simply show up at the warehouse on any Friday. Please bring your own gloves and safety glasses if you have them. We will provide them if you don't have them.
A big welcome to the students from the Monarch School will be visiting the warehouse to reuse lumber for their garden shed projects in January.
* Volunteer Spotlight
Joyce Palmer is retired from the Solid Waste Management Department and donates three full days a week of her time to the warehouse project. Joyce is our core volunteer and performs many key tasks at the warehouse.
Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks!
* The Non-Profit Club
The following organizations have reused material from the warehouse and/or have submitted a non-profit letter
Adopt a Cat Inc. * AIDS Housing Coalition Houston * Blue Triangle Multicultural Association Inc. * Box 13 Artspace * Brazos School for Inquiry and Creativity * A New Life * Centro Cristiano Cosecha Final * Church of the Living God Temple 305 * Disaster Recovery * Ecclesia Church * The Galloway School * Habitat for Humanity International Inc. * Historic Houston * Hoa Hao Buddhist Congregational Church * Holy Ghost Pentacostal Headquarters Church * House of Prayer Outreach Church * Houston Baptist University * Houston Independent School District * Houston Institute for Culture * Jones Therapeutic Foster Care * Independence Heights Redevelopment Council Inc. * Jewish Family Service * Lamar University * The Last Chance Recovery Center Inc. * Last Organic Outpost * Lending Helping Hands to Others * Lighthouse Animal Foundation * Living Paradigm Community Development Corporation * Lost Sheep Ministries * Maranatha Christian Ministries * The Mennonite Central Committee U.S. * The Monarch School Inc. * Obmons Educational Stage Plays Inc. * The Pacifica Foundation * Patience Outreach Inc. * The Orange Show Foundation * Redemption Community Development Corporation * Remington Acres Equine Services * Remnant Worship Center * Restoration Coalition International * Rice University * Rice School of Architecture * Row House Community Development * Ryon Sports Association * South Texas Animal Adoption Resource * Spay Neuter Assistance Program * Third Ward Bike Shop * St. Mark's United Methodist Church * Techs and Trainers Inc. * Texans Together Education Fund Inc. * Texas Adaptive Aquatics Inc. * Tillman and Tillman Development * Together We Stand Christian Church * The University of Houston * Writers in the Schools * Workshop Houston *
* The Ton Club
Members of the Ton Club have donated at least one ton of material to the Reuse Warehouse. Some have donated several tons. The City of Houston Reuse Warehouse does not endorse private companies and mentions their names solely because they have made donations or partnered with the project in some way.
Bovis Lend Lease Inc. 1 ton * Jim Pays 1 ton * The Menil Collection 1 ton * GEO Environmental Consultants Inc. 1 ton * Oak Forest Lumber and Supply Co. 1 ton * Emson Services LLC 1 ton * Durotech General Contractors Inc. 1 ton * Karen Lantz AIA LEED AP 7 tons * The Galloway School 1 ton * JunkGoesGreen 7 tons * Bobcat Welding 1 ton * Justin Gordon Homes 6 tons * City of Houston 8 tons * Preload Inc. 11 tons * Ambius 1 ton * Gilbane Construction Inc. 3 tons * The Mayer Family 1 ton * Bright Side Construction 1 ton * Brothers Strong Residential Design Build 4 tons * TruTimber 12 tons * Dan Young 1 ton * The Detering Company 1 ton *
* Reuse Partners
City of Houston Solid Waste Management Recycling Overview * Living Paradigm * TruTimber * JunkGoesGreen * B C Woodwork * Last Organic Outpost * John Daugherty Realtors * Pepper Lawson construction L.P. * Finite Construction Services * Cherry Demolition Company * Little Joy Recycling * Greenhaus Builders * O'Donnell/Snider Construction * Keep Houston Beautiful *
* Community Spotlight
The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Recycling Division has all of the information regarding what is and what will be recycled in Houston. More recycling features are planned for the Reuse Warehouse North Main location, including Christmas tree recycling this January.
The Citizens' Environmental Coalition is perhaps the best resource for community news and events addressing environmental issues. They serve the public by bringing many diverse groups together to build awareness and stimulate discussion about environmental issues in the region.
The Green Building Resource Center is a LEED registered City of Houston office that demonstrates green building technologies. * Have your plans reviewed for opportunities to add green strategies to save energy, save water and make your buildings healthier. * Learn about green building options at the interactive kiosk * See samples of green building materials * Consult with Public Works and Engineering staff and Program Director, Steve Stelzer * Location: City of Houston Code Enforcement Building, 3300 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002 * Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-noon and 1pm-5pm * Contact: 713-535-7508 .
Transition Houston is a networking resource for organizations making the transition to a more fulfilling, equitable and sustainable world. It is the local chapter of Transition United States.
* Media
* On the web
www.houstonreuse.org
Warehouse photos including monthly inventories
* Television
Look for a report about the Reuse Warehouse on Going Green with Yolanda Green, Saturdays at noon and Sundays at 10am on KIAH Channel 39 coming up later this month.
Greenwatch TV, Houston public access cable channel 17. Watch excerpts here.
* Radio
The Home Improvement Hotline, 950AM featured the warehouse on October 10, at 9:30am. Download and/or listen here.
KUHF 88.7FM Business News featured the warehouse on November 16th. Listen to it here. Wendy Siegle visited the warehouse for her excellent story entitled Other People's Junk. Listen to it here.
* In print
The Houston Chronicle featured Karen Lantz's deconstructed house and mentioned the Reuse Warehouse in this recent article.
* Contact Us
City of Houston Building Materials Reuse Warehouse
9003 N. Main St.
Houston, Texas 77022
281-814-3324
reuse.warehouse@cityofhouston.net
Reuse Warehouse Inventory
City of Houston Solid Waste Management Recycling Overview
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments you may have.
If your name, organization, or company was not included in this Newsletter, please contact me.
Keith Koski, Project Director
keith.koski@cityofhouston.net