Our Services

ReuseNYC is home to New York City's non-profit reuse community, a network of organizations and agencies working together to facilitate, educate and support the redistribution of second-hand or reusable materials within NYC. These groups range from thrift stores to green building and deconstruction companies; as well as, advocacy groups; charitable drives; social service organizations; ecology centers; and creative arts programs. While network members may vary widely in their overall missions and size, the commonality of all these organizations is their work in preventing valuable resources from ending up in the waste stream.

ReuseNYC provides a center for this community to meet and network in a variety of different venues, including:

Annual ReuseNYC Conference
The Annual ReuseNYC Conference is the first city-wide conference dedicated to materials exchange and reuse. The purpose of this event is to provide an opportunity to discuss best practices, weigh in on sector strategies, and network with other organizations.

ReuseNYC Directors Roundtable
The ReuseNYC Directors Roundtable is a quarterly meeting, seeking to bring together leaders of the NYC Reuse Sector in order to discuss the issues facing us both as individual organizations and as a group, and to work on mutually-beneficial solutions

Focus Groups & Strategic Partnership Committees
A platform for interested members to discuss best practices and organize partnership committees within the sector ultimately to strategize collective solutions regarding common concerns. These groups form the strategic base and core of reuse sector collaborations, and many of ReuseNYC's city-funded programs and services have begun as member driven committees.

ReuseNYC's sister program, NYC WasteMatch, is an online materials exchange service that matches in-kind donors of surplus, or second-hand, materials with non-profit groups in need. Through NYC WasteMatch corporate donors can locate hundreds of nonprofit programs to donate to. In the process clients on both sides can reduce disposal costs, generate revenue, and/or obtain donated products and materials at low or no cost. ReuseNYC members are provided with a NYC WasteMatch managed account, which includes one-on-one exchange management services for those organizations looking eliminate excess inventory, or locate those hard to find donations.

As per member suggestions, ReuseNYC has developed and implemented a variety of workshops and professional development trainings designed to assist reuse professionals and organizations in developing and improving their operations. These include:

The NYC Materials Reuse Certificate Program

The Materials Reuse Certificate Program is a series of eight interactive workshops that provide FREE professional development training for administrative staff and associates of reuse programs. This program includes sessions on: Goal Setting & Program Design; Board & Volunteer Management; Marketing; Tax, Risk and Liability; Budgeting & Fundraising; Warehousing & Logistics; Reuse Retail Management; and Program Evaluation & Outcome Measurement.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

As of August 14th 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) signed into effect the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in response to hazardous materials found in the making of toys. This piece of legislation specified the unlawfulness of selling recalled products. Additionally, children’s products cannot be sold if they contain more than 300 parts per million (ppm) total lead, even if they were manufactured before August 2009.
How familiar are you and your organization with the CPSIA? Are you aware of what kinds of screening you need to ensure compliance? Because resellers that sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties, the effects of this law on the reuse sector can be potentially great. This workshop is intended to educate Sector Members on the existing laws affecting materials donations and sale and the ways to protect their organizations from violations.

Don't Let the Donated Bedbugs Bite

Bed bugs have increasingly become a topic of concern throughout the reuse sector, yet very little is known about them. While their name implies the habitat of these pests, the name may be misleading. These blood-feeding insects do not inhabit strictly mattresses. Bed bugs are most commonly spread, unknowingly, by the transportation of clothing, luggage, furniture, and bedding; even inhabiting small cracks in walls and flooring. In addition, according to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, bed bugs can even live for several months without feeding. This educational workshop, developed by ReuseNYC in collaboration with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, will focus on the NYC bedbug epidemic, as well as preventative practices and extermination methods, and what every ReuseNYC Member needs to know in order to protect themselves and their organization.

OSHA Warehouse Standards Seminar

This interactive workshop, co-facilitated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and ReuseNYC, will review the safety standards that all materials reuse programs need to know about warehousing safety standards, code compliance and best practices.

Since its establishment research has been an integral part of ReuseNYC activities. This continues today with research and development projects carried out by ReuseNYC's parent organization, the NYC Center for Materials Reuse (NYC CMR):

NYC Reuse Sector Data Management Project (DMP)

The goal of NYC CMR's Data Management Project is to develop a system that will use data provided by individual members to describe their environmental, social and economic impact. This FREE member service provides a resource for marketing, reporting and member advocacy.

For more information contact: DMP@nyccmr.org

Transporting Reusables Using Commercial Carriers (TRUCC)

An ongoing collaborative project, TRUCC is aimed at creating an informational and technical resource for the purpose of expanding the transportation capacity of ReuseNYC members through inter-industry partnerships. This project encompasses collaboration with member organizations, members of the Department of Civil Engineering at the City College of New York, the Department of Sanitation's Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling, and members of the commercial trucking industry.

For more information contact: TRUCC@nyccmr.org

For its members and affiliates ReuseNYC offers a range of resources for the purpose of promoting, educating and generating awareness of both the benefits of product donations and reuse, as well as, on related environmental issues and the ceaseless work carried out by the organizations that manage the City’s reuse, recycling and environmental education industry. Such resources include:

The ReuseNYC News

NYC's only newsletter dedicated to all things reuse. Sign-up HERE!

The ReuseNYC Directory

An online resource profiling members of ReuseNYC's vibrant network. Check out OUR MEMBERS!

ReuseNYC.info

ReuseNYC's website, which provides valuable up to date information about regular news, events, job opportunities, and a catalog of online resources for members.

Social Media

Follow us for updates on what's happening with your favorite non-profit donations program as well as other reuse related information in NYC.

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