Recycling Tips: re-use recycle programs

What, exactly, is a Re-use Recycling Program? Re-use is a part of recycling that may not be as well known as, say, turning in cans for money, or recycling metal, paper, etc. Re-use does not take articles, cut and melt them down, then turn them into brand new items. Instead, a Re-use program takes in any manner of discarded goods, and seeks to find new uses for the items.

For example, think through various items you may throw away in a month's time. Could anyone use any of those items and turn them into something new? Have you heard of making ties out of old tires? What about turning cans into carrying cases, bird feeders, or something else? Many items may have significance to an artisan or to someone just wanting to play around with the idea of "trash art."

For a Re-use program to work, you need lots of support. This means that, if you are simply one individual, chances are you may not be able to carry this off all by yourself. The more support you have, at all levels of business and government, the better your chances of success. If you have a great idea that you want to turn into a tangible reality, scope out some movers and shakers in your community. But don't stop there. Look as far and wide as possible, to influential members of your state, and even within the national sector. There may well be help from a wider array of sources than you first thought.

Once you have put together a "might be interested" list, start making contacts. Explain what you have in mind and how you think it might be accomplished. Of course, like any good business enterprise - and a Re-use program IS a business enterprise - you will need some kind of business plan. Search out people knowledgeable in the business world, including people from the Small Business Association (SBA) and SCORE (retired business folks providing business advice and support). Look at any business connections readily available to you, then approach them with your ideas.

Your plan, and the discussions with your potential partners, should include these points:

· Location - you will need a suitable place in which to build your operation. A large warehouse or even a large area of land out in the country (like a farm or ranch) would be suitable. Even though you may start out small, once you get up and running, you may soon find yourself overflowing with discarded goods. And, not only will you need storage place, you will need working space and display space. Land, with several buildings, would be ideal.

· Areas to consider - You will need such areas as receiving, pick-up and delivery, lumber and building materials, crafts, thrift (or other) store, furniture, repair shop, metals, office, workshop. These are but possibilities, and the list very well could be endless.

· Volunteers - you will need a lot of willing hands to make this thing work. Someone has to pick up discarded items, transport them to the Re-use site, unload the trucks, sort the materials, place everything in its proper place, staff any stores and materials buildings, as well as serve in some type of administrative position for the enterprise. Who will be involved? You can involve entire communities in this undertaking, encouraging everyone to recycle in this new way.

· PR, Marketing - The very idea you are launching is novel, unique and of suitable wide appeal to pique the interest of many news journalists. If you don't have an experienced public relations or marketing person on board, check out as many books as possible from your local library. There are resources out there, for learning how to write your own press release to getting some free publicity for your new enterprise.

· And who will benefit from such a business? Everyone! Each and every member of your community, and even region, can benefit from this kind of operation. Everyday people can find things to reuse. Schools can plan field trips to your location, so the kids can learn a new kind of recycling. Artisans can find your new place a treasure trove of useful items to incorporate into their work. Use your imagination.

· Your store - You can operate a thrift store, whose proceeds either benefit the business, itself, or some other nonprofit, or you can run a company store, for your own benefit, as well. It just depends on the angle of the business, and whether the business is a personal one, or a nonprofit for the benefit of the community.

· Services on site - Perhaps, you could solicit the business of a local repairperson. See if he or she would be interested in setting up shop on your site. This allows customers to bring in items to see if they are salvageable, and if so, the customer goes home happy. If the item can not be saved, then you have gained another article for your discards.

· Form workshops and work training programs - Help train the poor, the disabled, or anyone else who wishes to learn. Teach them the different aspects of your business, then employ them in whatever part of the program they fit in and are most needed. You are both providing a needed and valuable service to the community, as well as ensuring your own quality of employees.

Finally, once you have everything up, running, and ready to go, throw a big grand opening and open house celebration. Invite everyone you know, plus the hundreds of thousands of community and regional folks you don't yet know. Make it a truly special grand opening, and offer tours of your facilities. You will ensure yourself a new batch of customers, supporters, and friends of your operation.

The possibilities of a Re-use Recycling Program are vast. You just need to figure out what you want to achieve, how you need to get there, and what steps to take next. But the possibilities are in your hands … every time you start to the trash to discard something.