Recycling Construction Materials

Constructing a house or building can be expensive and can create large amount of waste. And after the construction is done, where do you think those discarded materials and waste will end up? In a landfill somewhere. But instead of throwing these materials out, why not repurpose them and turn them into something new?
    
repurposedMATERIALS, a Colorado-based company, specializes in repurposing, which is the process of taking old products and materials that would otherwise end up in landfills or incinerators, and turning them around to be used for a different purpose. Founded in 2010, the company has been flourishing into a nationwide business with hubs in Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Philadelphia. Many supplies you need in a construction project, repurposedMATERIALS will have products that can be used for that purpose. Instead of buying brand new ones, you can invest in repurposed products that will not only help the planet, but also save you some money.

Discarded wood is one product that is often dealt with. Wood such as the planks from basketball courts and from bowling alleys are unique and unusual materials that many wouldn’t think of reusing. But both of these can be turned into countertops, table tops, flooring with an interesting pattern, or even an unusual flair for a wall or ceiling. Bleachers from a high school, once stuck with gum, can be shined up and turned into shelves. Wooden slats from snow fences can also be pulled apart and used in similar architectural ways. Weathered wood siding can become a rustic and homey addition to a building as a floor or wall.

Even unusual materials can be repurposed. One atypical, yet beautiful, concept is turning ski cable into decorative railings for homes, offices, or commercial buildings. This product may seem like only a length of incredibly strong wire that should never have a place in a home, but the cable can become a very unique addition to a property. Rubber conveyor belts, also a unique product, can be used as protective flooring in garages and sheds.

There are also many products repurposedMATERIALS sells that can be used for the outside of the building to add an artistic or eye catching flair. Wire screens that were once used to cover commercial air conditioners to keep things like birds and balls out of them, can be turned into an unusual fence for outside of an estate. Old pool covers can be turned into awnings for the front of the building. Retired army parachutes can be used similarly as an outdoor or indoor canopy. And once again, one of the most common commodities, discarded wood, can be used to create gazebos, swings, garden boxes, decks, and many other materials as well.

repurposedMATERIALS also gathers cast off materials from renovations or demolitions  that can repurposed for other industries besides construction. Roofing membrane from a house can be using as industrial strength weed barrier for landscapers. Insulation can be used by contractors to keep underground waterlines from freezing. The company also sells products to landscapers, farmers, DIYers, ranchers, and many others. Anyone can benefit from the use of repurposed materials. Repurposing is a process that can be instigated into almost any project or business.

Using repurposed materials instead of brand new products is a cost efficient change. As Benjamin Franklin, the father of our country, once said, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” and by spending your money on repurposed materials instead of brand new products for your business, you can save yourself that penny. But repurposing isn’t just good for your wallet and your finances, it’s also good for the planet, keeping tons of waste out of landfills, and keeping earth liveable for at least a little longer.

There is no limit to how far this can grow. Because of the creativity of its buyers, customer base, owner, and employees, this business is not short on ideas. And because of these people, repurposedMATERIALS can continue to spread their message of ingenuity and giving discarded items a second life across the country, and maybe one day, the world.