Impact of Reuse
Why does reuse matter?
Reducing both the amount of materials we produce and the harmful impacts consequent on producing and disposing of them helps both people and the environment
Building a more circular economy
Beginning in 1999, Construction Junction’s mission has been giving new purpose to items saved from the landfill.
Impact Report
Promoting conservation through the resue of building materials since 1999.
The goal of this report is to share the many inspiring, environmental, economic, and community-building impacts that result in a movement favoring reuse.
Over 20 years of reusing, reclaiming, upcycling, and repurposing adds up!
60,000+ CABINETS
65,000+ PLUMBING ITEMS
72,000+ DOORS
120,000+ LIGHTING ITEMS
…and counting!
All kept from going to waste through the power of reuse – let’s keep it going
For the Environment
Reuse as source reduction
Source reduction is the approach of reducing both the amount of materials we produce and the harmful impacts consequent on producing and disposing of them.
This tactic has been identified by the EPA as the highest priority in efforts to reduce solid waste.
Moving beyond reuse and recycling
Embodied energy includes the energy used during the entire life cycle of a product: manufacturing, transporting, and disposing of that product.
Starting at the source and building end of life re-usability into new designs helps to preserve the embodied energy used in the manufacturing of that item.
Designing for deconstruction
The embodied energy in building materials like dimensional lumber includes the energy used to grow, harvest and process trees into boards, transport the lumber to its destination, and ultimately dispose of the wood and the end of its useful life.
Our community room not only utilizes reclaimed materials wherever possible, it was actually designed and built to be taken apart and reused.
Reducing the strain on natural resources
Every ton of wood that is reused avoids the creation of 60 pounds of greenhouse gas.
Utilizing material reuse practices to help facilitate a more circular cycle of use creates less air and water pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions, than making a new item. Reuse also offers fewer environmental impacts than recycling.
For People
Generating opportunities both large and small
When you donate or utilize secondhand or surplus materials, you are contributing to a global movement to reduce pollution, reduce the consumption of valuable resources, and to creating local, green jobs!
- For every 1000 tons of material, disposal generates 2.5 jobs, while recycling and reuse generate 4.7 jobs
- Studies show residential rehabilitation creates over 50% more jobs than new construction
- Reuse creates a larger supply of goods while saving money on purchase and disposal costs
- A larger secondary market brings higher quality material resources to individuals and organizations than what they could afford new
As an environmental nonprofit, we have over 30 full and part-time employees. In addition, Construction Junction supports job training programs and temporary opportunities for people with barriers to employment through cooperative arrangements with organizations including Goodwill of Southwestern PA and the South Hilltop Men’s Group. The inventory sold in our retail store also generates PA state sales tax revenue.
In 2015:
- We were able to offer 3601 hours of employment and job readiness experience through training partnerships
- Our CJ ReGives program distributed $25k in materials to 43 area nonprofits
Construction Junction is a proud member of Build Reuse, the premier national organization encouraging the recovery, reuse, and recycling of building materials in the United States.
