Boost Reuse

Boost Reuse

What is Boost Reuse?

Boost Reuse is a community reuse drive initiative developed by Recycle Ann Arbor that aims to reduce and divert materials headed toward the landfill by moving materials up the zero waste hierarchy.

RAA Zero Waste hierarchy image

 

Our goal is to develop and promote reuse programs at the Drop-Off Station and Recovery Yard, aligning with our community-based zero waste action mission. At Recycle Ann Arbor, we recognize that recycling alone is not enough to achieve zero waste, so we have created the Boost Reuse program to focus on reuse and repair at a local level.

Current Boost Reuse collection drive:

Coat Drive
December 2nd through January 4th

Clean out your closets and bring your gently used or unwanted coats to the Drop-Off Station or Recovery Yard during our regular operating hours. Coats must be clean of dirt and grease and dry. As a bonus, bring a coat and receive free entry to recycle your traditional recyclables on the same day (limit one free entry per person) for one-stop convenience. 

Drop off your coats at these locations:

📍  Drop-Off Station: 2950 East Ellsworth Rd

📍  Recovery Yard: 7891 Jackson Road

Usable coats will be donated to our local partner organizations FedUp Ministries, Swoops Food Pantry EMU, and others and distributed to those in need within our community. Unusable coats will be recycled at the Drop-Off Station, helping to keep all materials local.

Only textiles from individuals will be accepted; no commercial textiles.

Boost Reuse Coat Drive flyer graphic

Boost Reuse will host several reuse collection drives throughout the year, such as books, gardening equipment/supplies, school/office supplies, etc., to promote and provide collection support to local community organizations that will distribute the materials to members of our community that can put them to good re-use!

 

Boost Reuse Goals

Through Boost Reuse, we will leverage our current investments to move up the zero waste hierarchy. Our aim is to strengthen partnerships with other community organizations addressing similar issues, raise awareness about reuse, and demonstrate how it helps conserve natural resources by extending the life of products. Recycle Ann Arbor’s focus is on shifting towards reuse and other zero-waste methods to positively impact the environmental quality of our community by reducing the need to extract new raw materials to make new products and keep materials local. 

 

Why Reuse Programs? 

Reuse programs can foster a sense of community and help build a culture of sustainability and responsibility that inspires others to adopt similar practices. Reusing items can save money for residents and businesses by reducing the need to purchase new products. Reuse initiatives such as Boost Reuse, repair shops, and second-hand retail stores, among others, also create local jobs and support a circular economy as part of Washtenaw County’s zero waste goals.

Have an idea for a Boost Reuse collection drive, or is your local organization looking for a collection partner? Reach out to us at [email protected]

 

Used Coat Drive Final Numbers:

 

Coat drive final numbers infographic

A total of 176 coats were collected from the Drop-Off Station and Recovery Yard. All 176 coats were reused and distributed to those in need within our community through our local partner organizations, ensuring that all were kept out of the landfill and put to good re-use!