How to Donate or Recycle Home Remodeling Materials
Cut greenhouse gas emissions, ease landfill loads and give back to neighbors with an eco-friendly approach to renovation
Mitchell Parker
19 April 2019
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
Visit any remodeling project during its demolition phase, and you might think that those piles of broken concrete, asphalt, wood, drywall, brick, metal, glass and more are just junk heaps destined for a landfill. Not so fast.
Many construction and demolition materials can be reused and recycled. And doing so reduces greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing the need to produce and manufacture new materials. Recycling home remodeling materials eases strain on local landfills. Who wants those to get any bigger than they have to?
Many construction and demolition materials can be reused and recycled. And doing so reduces greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing the need to produce and manufacture new materials. Recycling home remodeling materials eases strain on local landfills. Who wants those to get any bigger than they have to?
The following is a short guide to donating and finding construction and demolition materials. Every city has different organizations and methods for disposing of and recycling waste, so consider this a jumping-off point.
If you’re working with a general contractor or other remodeling professional, ask him or her about how your old building materials could be reused, recycled, donated or disposed of in an environmentally conscious way. And inquire about how you can reduce excess material waste during construction. If you’re doing the work yourself, there are still plenty of options for getting rid of your construction waste besides putting them in a landfill.
What Building Materials Can Be Reused and Recycled?
First off, it’s good to know what can be reused and salvaged, and what can be recycled. This list is from the U.S. Green Building Council, which recommends trying to reuse or salvage first. Once those options are exhausted, turn to recycling.
Home items to reuse or donate. The following materials and fixtures have potential to be removed from a house and used as-is in another house or building.
Home items to recycle. The following materials can be removed from a house, taken to a recycling facility and made into new materials that can then be used in houses and buildings.
If you’re working with a general contractor or other remodeling professional, ask him or her about how your old building materials could be reused, recycled, donated or disposed of in an environmentally conscious way. And inquire about how you can reduce excess material waste during construction. If you’re doing the work yourself, there are still plenty of options for getting rid of your construction waste besides putting them in a landfill.
What Building Materials Can Be Reused and Recycled?
First off, it’s good to know what can be reused and salvaged, and what can be recycled. This list is from the U.S. Green Building Council, which recommends trying to reuse or salvage first. Once those options are exhausted, turn to recycling.
Home items to reuse or donate. The following materials and fixtures have potential to be removed from a house and used as-is in another house or building.
- Appliances
- Bathroom fixtures
- Bricks
- Cabinets
- Carpeting
- Ceiling tiles
- Dimensional lumber
- Doors
- Ductwork
- Flooring
- Insulation
- Landscaping materials
- Lighting fixtures
- Marble
- Metal framing
- Oriented strand board and plywood
- Paneling
- Pipes
- Siding
- Stone
- Tile
- Toilets
- Trim and antique molding
- Windows
- Wood beams and posts
Home items to recycle. The following materials can be removed from a house, taken to a recycling facility and made into new materials that can then be used in houses and buildings.
- Acoustical ceiling tiles
- Asphalt
- Asphalt shingles
- Cardboard
- Carpet and carpet pad
- Concrete
- Drywall
- Fluorescent lights and ballast
- Land clearing debris (vegetation, stumps, dirt)
- Metals
- Paint (use a hazardous waste outlet)
- Plastic film (sheeting, shrink wrap, packaging)
- Window glass
- Wood
Find a green-building specialist in the Houzz pro directory
Where to Donate or Get Used Building Materials
The Freecycle Network. More than 5,000 groups make up this free, 9 million-member global nonprofit whose mission is to keep “good stuff out of landfills.” Browse your city’s Freecycle listings to connect with other residents to give and receive building materials, furniture, toilets, appliances, carpet and more. Through this network, the organization says it’s able to keep more than 1,000 tons a day out of landfills.
Habitat for Humanity ReStores. These popular nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers are found all over the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Stores accept new and gently used appliances, furniture, building materials, household goods and more. (The list varies by location, so check before taking your materials there.) You can also buy items from the stores. Many homeowners have reported finding good deals on kitchen cabinets, doors, windows and more.
Craigslist. Think of this site as a worldwide virtual classified-ads listing. Search the “for sale” section for materials or create a post to sell your own materials. You should also check out the “free” section (under “for sale”) to find and give away materials and furniture. A recent search showed people giving away pea gravel, scrap metal, dirt, appliances, paint, stain, pallets, windows, scallop edging bricks, scrap wood, broken concrete, wood chips, sliding doors, pressure-treated posts, salvaged lumber, cabinet doors and more. Facebook Marketplace offers a similar experience.
Construction & Demolition Recycling Association. The CDRA advocates for an environmentally friendly approach to construction by promoting the recycling of materials such as concrete, asphalt, shingles, gypsum drywall, wood and metals. Use the site to search for construction and demolition recycling companies in your area.
The Freecycle Network. More than 5,000 groups make up this free, 9 million-member global nonprofit whose mission is to keep “good stuff out of landfills.” Browse your city’s Freecycle listings to connect with other residents to give and receive building materials, furniture, toilets, appliances, carpet and more. Through this network, the organization says it’s able to keep more than 1,000 tons a day out of landfills.
Habitat for Humanity ReStores. These popular nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers are found all over the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Stores accept new and gently used appliances, furniture, building materials, household goods and more. (The list varies by location, so check before taking your materials there.) You can also buy items from the stores. Many homeowners have reported finding good deals on kitchen cabinets, doors, windows and more.
Craigslist. Think of this site as a worldwide virtual classified-ads listing. Search the “for sale” section for materials or create a post to sell your own materials. You should also check out the “free” section (under “for sale”) to find and give away materials and furniture. A recent search showed people giving away pea gravel, scrap metal, dirt, appliances, paint, stain, pallets, windows, scallop edging bricks, scrap wood, broken concrete, wood chips, sliding doors, pressure-treated posts, salvaged lumber, cabinet doors and more. Facebook Marketplace offers a similar experience.
Construction & Demolition Recycling Association. The CDRA advocates for an environmentally friendly approach to construction by promoting the recycling of materials such as concrete, asphalt, shingles, gypsum drywall, wood and metals. Use the site to search for construction and demolition recycling companies in your area.
Building Materials Reuse Association. The BMRA is a nonprofit “educational and research organization whose mission is to advance the recovery, reuse and recycling of building materials,” according to its website. Click on the “find/donate” tab on the website to navigate to a directory developed by BMRA, the American Wood Council and the Canadian Wood Council. There you can enter your city to find local places to donate and buy wood materials like barn wood, furniture, countertops, I-joists, doors, windows, fiberboard, engineered flooring and more.
Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA offers a guide to sustainable management of construction and demolition materials that’s a deep dive into building waste and how to manage it from an environmental standpoint. It might be more geared toward industry professionals such as general contractors, builders and demolition companies, but anyone who’s interested in geeking out more on reducing material waste will find it useful. The agency also offers guidelines for specific materials, with information about how much of each material’s content can actually be recycled.
State resources. For local directories on reducing, reusing and recycling materials, visit your state’s .gov website. Sometimes this falls under its environmental department, such as in Texas, where you can find info through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. California’s CalRecycle (the state’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery) has information about reusing and recycling building materials. The site also has a tool specifically for contractors to assist with diverting waste from job sites.
National Demolition Association. The NDA represents contractors who manage, dispose and recycle demolition debris. You have to be a member of the association to gain access to some of its website, which includes a directory to recycling centers and landfill facilities for construction and demolition materials.
Tell us: Have you built or decorated your house with recycled or salvaged materials? Please tell us about it in the Comments!
More on Houzz
Where to Donate, Sell or Recycle Old Furniture and Electronics
The Future of Smart Design: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle
Browse the latest photos
Find a pro specializing in sustainable design
Shop for home improvement products
Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA offers a guide to sustainable management of construction and demolition materials that’s a deep dive into building waste and how to manage it from an environmental standpoint. It might be more geared toward industry professionals such as general contractors, builders and demolition companies, but anyone who’s interested in geeking out more on reducing material waste will find it useful. The agency also offers guidelines for specific materials, with information about how much of each material’s content can actually be recycled.
State resources. For local directories on reducing, reusing and recycling materials, visit your state’s .gov website. Sometimes this falls under its environmental department, such as in Texas, where you can find info through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. California’s CalRecycle (the state’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery) has information about reusing and recycling building materials. The site also has a tool specifically for contractors to assist with diverting waste from job sites.
National Demolition Association. The NDA represents contractors who manage, dispose and recycle demolition debris. You have to be a member of the association to gain access to some of its website, which includes a directory to recycling centers and landfill facilities for construction and demolition materials.
Tell us: Have you built or decorated your house with recycled or salvaged materials? Please tell us about it in the Comments!
More on Houzz
Where to Donate, Sell or Recycle Old Furniture and Electronics
The Future of Smart Design: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle
Browse the latest photos
Find a pro specializing in sustainable design
Shop for home improvement products
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We have used materials from Habitat (MD, VA, GA), Fuller (MD), Community Forklift (MD) Second Chance (MD), Salvation Army, Goodwill, craigslist and local thrift/vintage stores (GA) to remodel and decorate our home, renovate our daughter's home, maintain regular rentals, renovate and furnish a vacation rental, and flip a house - hardwood flooring, tiles, toilets, tubs, hoses, vanities, appliances, lighting and bathroom fixtures, medicine cabinets, fans, wood and metal furniture (e.g., tables, chairs, china cabinets, chest of drawers) mantels, solid wood doors, and lamps, decorative items. Some were brand new, some slightly used, some antiques, and others required refinishing but are beautiful, unique, and period appropriate when done. Howard's suite of products does wonders with wood cabinetry. We have also donated. I highly recommend this way of doing things. Less in landfills, less money for high quality, support for those in need (e.g. Habitat, Goodwill), or small businesses, uniqueness, . . .
Sometimes Habitat, Goodwill, etc can be picky, so 1) I understand they have limited space and must use the space and volunteer time well, 2) I shop around donation stores - some take what others won't, 3) I use craigslist to give away or sell, 4) I clean things up before donating as it sometimes exposes usefulness for others to see and who wants to buy dirty stuff? It's worth some effort to minimize waste. But I understand, sometimes it is overwhelming - I cleaned out my aunt's house after her death and there was a lot of sorting, identifying useful documents, coordinating to give to relatives, donating other stuff, calming my brother the executor who wanted to just hurry up and trash things at some point, etc. - we managed to reuse most of her things from a large house, and 2 sheds acquired over 80 years, but it took a lot of work. Fortunately, I had just retired.
Yes, a great resource but caveat emptor. I had a client recently buy tile from a similar store - it was not good quality and caused a lot of headaches - the finish was not thick and kept chipping among other things. She bought a sink without a template to put in a used chest of drawers and bought many other things that were stored on a site of a whole house remodel. A $50 item gets expensive when it is moved several times and the find becomes very expensive when turned into the vision - yes it is cool and it looks good and keeps it out of the landfill just realize you are not saving money if someone else does the work - it will cost a lot more while likely distracting them from bigger things.
None of this is good or bad per se just realize there are profound implications at times from the decisions/good ideas. In general nothing should be on the job site that does not have to do with that phase of the project. Not only does it get in the way - it is easy to get damaged - one more thing to worry about.
Ask first - impulsiveness is not a part of good job site management