By Chuck Warshaver | Stardust
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, over 600 million tons of construction materials go to waste in landfills each year. However, much of what is discarded is in usable condition. That waste could have been reused to remodel existing structures, repurposed to create new building materials, reduce the content of landfills, and support sustainability in the community.
Stardust is the only locally-based building material reuse nonprofit organization in Metro Phoenix, working to divert waste from landfills by salvaging new and gently-used materials from residential and commercial properties through its affordable deconstruction service. Since its inception in 1997, Stardust has diverted over 80 million pounds of usable building materials from landfills.
In an effort to facilitate reuse, Stardust provides deconstruction services to encourage reducing the overall environmental impact and diverting reusable materials from landfills. Deconstruction is an environmentally conscious alternative to conventional demolition and recycling. While Stardust charges a nominal fee, deconstruction services are more economically feasible than traditional demolition processes. In addition, home and business owners who utilize Stardust deconstruction services receive a detailed receipt itemizing materials donated that may be used for tax purposes.
For properties that may not need deconstruction services but would still have usable materials, Stardust offers free home pickup anywhere in Maricopa County. Materials eligible for donation pickup must be gently-used or new in condition to give reuse customers the best selections possible. Donations are tax-deductible. Customers may shop at Stardust’s Mesa and Glendale reuse centers for a wide variety of restored items at 50 to 80 percent off the regular retail price, including cabinets, fencing, gates, doors, windows, appliances, and furniture.
Proceeds generated by Stardust Reuse Centers are used to support our Gifts In Kind program. Gifts In Kind, operated in partnership with Valley of the Sun United Way, annually distributes over $25 million in usable materials donated by retailers such as Wal-Mart and Amazon to nonprofit organizations for use by their clients or to support their operations. Stardust’s Gifts In Kind program supports over 400 non-profit agencies in Maricopa County and touches the lives of over 200,000 individuals and their families every year. Through these community service programs and partnerships, Stardust can serve a wide range of individuals, from young to elderly, all living at or below the poverty level.
For more information, please visit stardustbuilding.org/ or contact Chuck Warshaver, Director of Business Development and Marketing, at cwarshaver@stardustbuilding.org or 617-803-0890.
About Stardust
Founded in 1997, Stardust is a non-profit organization that operates two reuse centers for home improvement that sell gently used, salvaged, and surplus building materials at affordable prices. Stardust encourages reuse and re-purposing in the community through innovation, education, and partnerships. In 26 years, they have diverted over 80 million pounds of usable building materials from the landfill, served over one million customers, and through their Gifts In Kind program, have provided nearly $92 million of household items to hundreds of nonprofit organizations.
Chuck Warshaver
Cell: 617-803-0890
Email: cwarshaver@stardustbuilding.org
Website: https://stardustbuilding.org/
Address: 1720 W. Broadway Rd. Suite 101 Mesa, AZ, 85202
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