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Reduce, Reuse & Recycle: How Reusing Will Reduce Your Recycling

Posted on 21. May, 2010 by Jennifer Marcus Newton in Real-World Ideas

What’s the “greener” property management choice: Reusing something that already exists or creating something new?

It’s not a trick question. And the right answer depends entirely on the item in question. Let’s say your rental property sports kitchen cabinets from the harvest-gold heyday, and which you suspect might be scaring off potential tenants. Your ad clearly articulates the “unique, vintage ambiance,” but you’ve strategically left out the “ripe avocado” appliances. It’s clearly time to update the space. If you’re like most folks, your brain immediately shifts to a big-box retailer to find the latest bamboo cabinets or energy-star appliances. But hold on just a second: Opting for brand-new might not be the greenest choice because brand-spanking new requires resources to make and creates waste byproducts as well.

As a general rule of thumb, most greenies will first explore options already in circulation. When evaluating, they might ask: How old is the item in question? (Deal breaker for a refrigerator: It’s from the icebox age.) Does it function as intended? Has it been properly maintained? Is it hazardous? (Deal breaker for second-hand kitchen cabinets: They’re covered in 10 layers of lead-based paint.) Is an energy-star rating on a brand-new replacement going to provide greater energy efficiency than something already out in the world? Finding the best green candidate is really about taking a long, hard look at the big picture.

Bear in mind that searching for a salvaged item requires that you keep an open mind, practice patience, and train your brain to see potential. Try to forget the disgusting ABC gum shtick you learned in grammar school. It’s also probably a good idea to suppress the memory of your great aunt’s crinkly tinfoil collection. Think about reuse in terms of pre-owned. The practice of reusing is actually quite smart and strategic on the green front. Be forewarned, however, that there’s little instant gratification in scouring the reuse marketplace for just the right fit.

If you’re up for the thrill of the hunt, let’s take a look at where to begin your search for the already here.

Online
If you have a specific item in mind, try looking first on Craigslist (craigslist.org). Start with the Free category and then work your way through the detailed For Sale categories that best correspond to your item. Craigslist also has a Looking For section where you can post the specifics of an item you need. Also try freecycle.org, another great channel for scoring a wide variety of free stuff within your community.

Out and About
Most communities have salvage or reuse centers where you can browse aisles of gently used doors, windows, slabs of granite, sinks, cabinets, hardware, light fixtures, finials, beadboard, and yes, even toilets. In my experience, these stores are excellent repositories for hard-to-find, well-made items for any period property—including my 1925 Arts and Crafts foursquare. Not long ago, I paid just over $100 for a 1920s hardwood front door complete with beveled glass. Not only did I get a high-quality door appropriate for my home’s period, I didn’t contribute to the felling of any more trees. And I paid a fraction of the price of a brand-new door.

In the interest of full disclosure, I spent many hours over the course of several trips to salvage stores to find the door that I thought was a good fit. At times, I walked out of stores discouraged and frustrated that all the right doors opened the wrong way. But during the quest for a new-old door, I happened upon yards of vintage beadboard, which my contractor later whipped into wainscoting for a bathroom remodel. And that’s precisely the spirit of reuse: Serendipity. If you are patient and have the ability to see potential, reusing just might be the route for greening your property management office and rental properties. And, of course, the planet.

Related Posts
Recycling Resources for Abandoned Property
The Aesthetics of Recycling
Advertising Within the Community: Ready, Set, Recycle!
The 21-Day Recycling Challenge
Deconstruction of Residential Real Estate

Tags: environment, recycle