Reuse Warehouse Newsletter * December 2009
 
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.
 
* 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.
 
 
* Warehouse News
 
A Pound of Diversion is Worth a Ton of Cure
Benjamin Franklin wrote the expression "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." At the Reuse Warehouse, we like the expression "A pound of diversion is worth a ton of cure". The City of Houston Building Materials Reuse Warehouse diverts reusable building materials from the waste stream and helps provide a cure for many needs in our community by giving the materials to non-profit organizations free of charge. Since we opened last spring, the warehouse has prevented over 120 tons of material from going into area landfills. We are well on our way to surpassing our goal of 200 tons by next spring. Over 50 non-profit organizations are making good use of what would have been thrown away.
 
Donations
Material donors range from individuals to large construction companies and everyone in between. In the past, homeowners wishing to reclaim garage space for their cars used to dispose of reusable doors, sinks, plywood and other articles. In growing numbers, they are bringing their stuff to the Reuse Warehouse. JunkGoesGreen removes junk from homes for a fee and recycles 100% of it. They bring building material to the warehouse. Conscientious builders like Justin Gordon Homes call us when they have material to donate rather than throwing it away. The City of Houston General Services  Department is one of our most beneficial partners. Several project managers inform us when a courthouse is being renovated or a library is getting a new extension. This kind of cooperation results in the diversion of tons of reusable light fixtures, high quality used brick, cabinetry, and other material from landfills.    
 
Non-Profits
Non-profit recipients range from small upstarts to well established national organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. Together We Stand Christian Church is reemploying several tons of flooring, furniture, plywood, and shingles to house after school programs and other much needed community services. The Galloway School has both donated substantial amounts of reusable building material and taken donations of other material. Last Organic Outpost makes excellent use of wood, brick, and stone in their community gardening efforts. Some non-profit organizations use diverted material in clever new ways. Box 13 Artspace, a non-profit organization, is turning reused doors, bathroom fixtures, and foam rubber into experimental art. The Orange Show Foundation used landfill-bound doors in stage sets at their recent annual gala. Some notable recent items to be reused include a leaded stained glass door, chandeliers, used billboards, and a set of bleachers. We just took in a 15 person Jacuzzi and will send it to a new home any day.
 
Warehouse Culture
The growing amount of material we are diverting from landfills and making available to non-profit organizations is very important. Equally important is the culture we are helping to create. It is a culture that places new values on what it throws away and forms lasting connections with people who can reuse it. The pace at the warehouse is picking up. Jonathan Lohn, the first manager of the warehouse, has re-entered the Navy after helping get the project off to a great start. All of us wish him only the best. Dave Barrows manages and alters the inventory to ensure it flows in and out of the gates quickly. Joyce Palmer, recently retired from SWM,  and Sam Gide, a LEED certified structural engineer, are two of our main volunteers. They help the warehouse project in ways ranging from de-nailing lumber to cold-calling building contractors. Sarah Mason, the driving force for this project in the Mayor's Office of Environmental Programming, and I are constantly looking for ways to publicize the project. On a recent Saturday, we had a successful open house that included a comprehensive television interview. Many people involved in the project visited and had refreshments as well as citizens from the surrounding Independence Heights neighborhood. Our story has been on three local radio stations and in the newspaper. Beginning with Christmas tree recycling in January, we'll be open more and more on weekends in order to accommodate homeowners.
 
20 Tons of Reusable Lumber  * Thanks to Clay Robinson of TruTimber for connecting the Warehouse with over 20 tons of  reusable landfill-bound lumber at a regional water supply project on the northern edge of Houston. PreLoad Inc. is building two municipal water tanks, each of which has a 3 million gallon capacity. 5-6 tractor trailer loads of new southern yellow pine were used for temporary support. Instead of being thrown away, this lumber is being reused. Volunteers are needed both to transport and de-nail this large amount of material.
 
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 terms, 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.
 
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* 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 are taking in. 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.
 
Deconstruction - Justin Gordon Homes will likely donate a house in Oak Forest to the Reuse Warehouse for deconstruction around December 20th. Volunteers are needed to remove as much material as possible and transport it approx. one mile to the warehouse. There are ongoing opportunities for deconstruction in the Houston area. Most opportunities have short times within existing contracts and/or agreements. A certain degree of organization is required in order to mobilize groups of people with the proper training in order to diminish the time required.
 
* 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. Sam Gide is a LEED certified structural engineer. One of our Reuse partners, Pepper-Lawson Construction, L.P. generously provided time for Mr. Gide to assist the warehouse in its mission. Both Joyce and Sam do everything from de-nailing reusable lumber to cold-calling construction and supply companies.
 
* 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 *
 
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* 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 3 tons * Bobcat Welding 1 ton * Justin Gordon Homes 4 tons * City of Houston General Services  5 tons * Preload Inc. 20 tons * Ambius 1 ton * Gilbane Construction Inc. 3 tons * The Mayer Family 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.
 
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* Media
 
* On the web
www.houstonreuse.org
Warehouse photos including monthly inventories
* Television
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 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
 
* Warehouse News
* Upcoming Events
* Volunteer Spotlight
* The Non-Profit Club
* The Ton Club
* Reuse Partners
* Community Spotlight
* Media
* Contact Us