Reduce, Reuse, Deconstruct?
Living in an old house often means remodeling projects — whether it is to replace a worn out historic element or to put in a whole new kitchen. Most people don’t even think about what happens to the materials that are removed from the home to make room for the new stuff, but it goes directly into our already over-burdened landfills. According to the EPA, in 2018 (the most recent year for which data is available) 600 million tons of construction waste was generated in the US — more than twice the amount of household waste generated the same year. So what can be done about all this waste? The City of Phoenix and Historic Preservation suggests you to consider something called “deconstruction.”
What is Deconstruction?
Deconstruction is the process of removing reusable building materials and making them available to the public for other projects. A skilled team comes to your home and dismantles the building components you don’t want, such as kitchen cabinets, light fixtures, countertops, etc. and resells them. There are many benefits to to this process beyond just reducing the flow of building materials into the landfill. Deconstruction —
- Offsets the environmental impact of extracting raw materials
- Creates jobs
- Benefits local non-profits
- Saves homeowners money on disposal costs
- Preserves historic elements for reuse
- Donations of materials may be tax deductible
- Individuals can purchase gently used materials for a much lower price
Phoenix Deconstruction Companies
This is a partial list of the deconstruction companies in Phoenix.
Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona
623-551-6000 select option 8
Harvest Eco-Salvage
480-948-6590
Stardust Building Supplies
480-269-8601
For additional information:
reusearizona.org
Public Works department
Reimaginephoenix@phoenix.gov
Planning & Development Department
When in the planning stages of your next project, consider contacting one of the deconstruction organizations listed here to discuss what can be removed from your home. Most organizations either do not charge for their services or only charge a nominal fee because they make money on the sale of the used materials. Deconstruction does add a few days to the project timeline, but when it’s built into the schedule, it won’t cause a significant delay.
An additional benefit to you is that you can purchase deconstructed materials and upcycle them into your own project. Used and vintage doors, windows, light fixtures, sinks, bathtubs, flooring and building stock, as well as the occasional Wolf range or Sub-Zero fridge can be found at recycling centers and building surplus stores for a fraction of the cost of new. You never know what interesting items you may find. In fact, the decorative metal in our wall is from a salvage yard. Before you start your next project, get creative and consider deconstruction!
