Greeting Reuse Fans,
We are all familiar with the solid waste hierarchy of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We are obviously here to facilitate #2 in that hierarchy, but I would also like to point out that practicing reuse plays an important role in reducing consumption. Many of the items we receive at CJ (not all of them) are of higher quality construction and made of material that holds up over time.
The vast majority of new affordable furniture and cabinetry is made of particleboard. This material does have an environmental benefit of being made of sawdust and lumber scraps, but it is held together with adhesives that often contain formaldehyde. It also takes more energy to produce particleboard than manufacturing lumber boards.
At CJ, most of the stuff we end up throwing away is made of particle board. It can’t be recycled (because of the chemicals used to hold it together), and the main point I am making is that-it simply does not last. How many times have you driven past cheap desks and book cases made of particle board sitting out for the trash? Do you ever wonder, how long did that actually last? When something does not last we have to replace that item more often increasing our consumption, and then we often replace that item with another made of particle board.
At CJ, we struggle to accept particle board items in OK condition because there is a possibility they can and will be reused. It is challenging because what do we do when an item is borderline? However at CJ you can purchase affordable, quality furniture items that are not made of particle board. The large supply of “This End Up” furniture, like the one pictured, is an example of the option we want to be able to give our customers.
Even at CJ some of your purchases can be greener than others but reuse is still the greenest choice if you have to replace an item.
Choose to reuse!
Mike Gable
Executive Director
Just a reminder! We need YOU to help with our survey to help CJ do some strategic planning. The retail world is changing. Home ownership is changing. There is a growing trend of people doing fewer DIY projects and instead hiring someone else to do home improvement projects. We know reuse carries a different set of challenges than purchasing new materials, and in this shifting landscape, it seems that the volume of usable building materials going to landfill has remained constant. CJ wants to know how we can improve our ability to divert these usable materials. Building material choices matter to the environment, resource conservation and preservation. Tell us how we are doing and what we can do to encourage more reuse!
