The Center for Ecological Technology (CET) of Pittsfield, Mass., has received $17,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Resource Conservation Challenge to demonstrate the reuse of construction and demolition debris, according to an EPA press release.
CET proposes to create an entrance vestibule and classroom for its expanded ReStore Home Improvement Center in Springfield, Mass., that will incorporate reused materials and educational displays about reuse. These “living displays” of reuse will be visited by 20,000 to 30,000 people annually who are working on home improvement projects and can incorporate reuse into their projects, the release states. The Restore Home Improvement Center resells unwanted home improvement materials to the public at low prices, according to the company’s Web site.
Recently the report “Construction and Demolition Waste Management in the Northeast in 2006” was published by the Northeast Waste Management Officials Association (NEWMOA) under a cooperative agreement with EPA. According to this report, the total C&D waste generation in the Northeast (the six New England States, New York and New Jersey) in 2006 was approximately 12,065,582 tons much of which can be reused or recycled.
“Reducing construction and demolition debris helps to conserve landfill space and reduces environmental impacts including greenhouse gas emissions that result from producing new materials,” says Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Builders can also see reduced building expenses by wiser management of these resources.”
In 2008 shoppers at the ReStore saved $800,000 buying reclaimed building materials like windows, doors, tubs, sinks, lighting fixtures and more. Hundreds of tons of materials were kept out of regional landfills and given new life instead. The ReStore provides deconstruction services to carefully dismantle homes to maximize reuse and minimize disposal. The ReStore also provides a free pickup service for donations from homeowners and businesses.
“We’re grateful for this support to help us demonstrate the reuse of building materials and inspire and educate our customers. We’ll be able to show how deconstructing homes and reusing the materials is good for our community, economy, and environment,” says John Majercak, ReStore director.