Reuse of building materials at regional facility nearly double the annual amount from just six years ago

BOULDER, CO – January 6, 2016 – ReSource, the building materials donation and reuse facility in east Boulder, set a record in 2015 for the greatest amount of materials diverted from landfills in a single year.

More than 3.8 million pounds of cabinets, doors, windows, appliances, lumber, and other materials were reused by local residents and businesses, representing the greatest diversion in ReSource’s twenty-year history.

This is an increase of more than 350,000 pounds from 2014, and nearly double the annual amount of materials diverted from landfills from just six years ago.

“Saving money at ReSource used to be one of the best kept secrets in Boulder,” said Neal Lurie, President of the Center for ReSource Conservation, the nonprofit organization that manages ReSource. “With prices 75% lower than typical retail rates, clearly the community has embraced this model of reducing waste. It’s an easy way to make home improvement projects more affordable, even for families on a tight budget.”

One of the fasting growing sources of donated materials is deconstruction services – disassembling homes rather than demolishing them so the materials can be used again. Contractors renovating kitchens, bathrooms, or other areas of a home, used to pay to dispose of the original cabinets, sinks, or counters. Today, these donations to ReSource are free and tax deductible. The City of Boulder sponsors the ReSource facility to support Boulder’s community zero waste goals.

“ReSource is one of the great success stories on Boulder’s path to becoming a zero waste community,” said Kara Mertz, environmental program manager for the city. “Building materials have a long useful life, but too often they end up buried prematurely in landfills. ReSource provides an efficient way to help people find and reuse the materials they need.”

Do-it-yourself fans can also find hundreds of tools which are available to rent at inexpensive rates at ReSource’s Tool Library.  While ReSource has been popular with locals for years, the facility has increasingly become a regional draw.

“We meet people who are doing everything from whole-house remodels to building tiny homes. What’s surprising is that our customers aren’t just locals, they’re coming from across the Front Range and even from other states,” said Brandon Hill, ReSource’s Senior Manager.  “They’re drawn here because ReSource has a unique mix of materials you can’t get in other stores and at prices that put home improvement projects within reach.”

ReSource is located at 6400 Arapahoe Road and is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm for both purchasing and donating materials. For large donations, ReSource program staff offer free pickup services.

For more information about ReSource, visit resourcecentral.org/resource/. For more information about additional reuse and recycling opportunities in Boulder, visit www.ZeroWasteBoulder.com and click “What Goes Where.”