When the historic Victoria Cross building on Saint Paul’s Grand Avenue came down this spring, not everything was lost. Before demolition began, local salvage business LumberStash led an effort to rescue everything from 1920s porcelain light fixtures and stained-glass windows to steel beams, toilets, lumber, and furniture. As a result, a father and daughter opening new businesses on Saint Paul’s East Side found unique track lighting they couldn’t have otherwise afforded, and owners of a new Thai restaurant saved thousands of dollars on sound equipment. Materials that otherwise would have ended up in the landfill found new homes across the community.
“We save lumber and other good materials from the landfill out of respect for the forest and nature,” said Jeremy Marshik, founder of LumberStash. “It’s fulfilling work, there’s an incredible amount of opportunity and not nearly enough people are doing this.”
Stories like this are playing out across Minnesota as homeowners, contractors, nonprofits, and businesses discover the environmental and economic benefits of building material reuse. At this year’s Minnesota State Fair, visitors will be able to experience these possibilities firsthand at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) Eco Experience, which will feature two full rooms made entirely of reused building materials. From reclaimed wood flooring and previously owned furniture to reused bathroom fixtures and fresh paint made from leftover paint, every item in the rooms has been given a second life instead of ending up in a landfill.
Why reuse matters
Construction and demolition debris is one of Minnesota’s largest waste streams. 1.6 million tons of construction and demolition waste get sent to the landfill each year across the 120 facilities that accept construction and demolition debris in the state. That’s equivalent to the weight of more than 21,000 average single-family homes. Reusing building materials helps keep valuable products out of landfills while reducing the environmental impacts of making new ones.
Emissions don’t begin when a material reaches the landfill. It takes energy to mine or harvest raw materials, manufacture products, and transport them to stores and job sites. By reusing products that already exist, Minnesotans can help prevent these “upstream” emissions while conserving natural resources.
The impact can add up quickly. Estimates for materials featured in the Eco Experience exhibit show that reusing 360 pounds of wood flooring can avoid about 1,121 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions). Reusing a 20-pound television can avoid an estimated 534 pounds of CO2e, while a 100-pound bathtub can avoid about 500 pounds. Even three gallons of recycled paint made from leftover paint — about 33 pounds — can prevent an estimated 345 pounds of CO2e emissions.
For homeowners and consumers, there’s another advantage: Reuse often costs less than buying new while adding character that can’t be replicated with mass-produced products.
Minnesota is building a culture of reuse
Across the state, a growing network of organizations is making it easier to salvage, resell, and reuse building materials. The MPCA has distributed $2.4 million in building management grants that support deconstruction training and building material reuse projects. The MPCA is also promoting deconstruction — the careful dismantling of buildings to salvage reusable materials — instead of traditional demolition by supporting training programs, developing model ordinances, and providing technical assistance to local governments interested in sustainable building practices.
“People like to save money and find something different for their homes,” said Melissa Wenzel, built environment sustainability administrator at the MPCA. “Minnesota has a sustainability culture and it’s being reflected within the built environment. At some of the county diversion and reuse programs, items like lumber don’t stay on the shelves for long, especially when it’s free (like at Hubbard County) or priced to sell (like at Dodge or Becker County).”
Communities across Minnesota are expanding these efforts. Some counties and public agencies now offer grants that support deconstruction projects, the installation of reclaimed building materials, and even the relocation of existing buildings rather than destroying them. Many counties have created “diversion and reuse” programs, allowing people to drop off or take away building materials or household items, and cities across the state are offering building materials swaps or donation events. Residents who don’t have these opportunities in their communities can encourage their local governments to explore similar programs.
Learn more at Eco Experience
The reclaimed materials that will be showcased at Eco Experience illustrate the same idea behind the Victoria Cross salvage project: Materials often viewed as demolition waste still have years of life left, and can help save money, reduce pollution, and preserve unique pieces of Minnesota’s history.
Throughout the exhibit, visitors will be able to compare the cost of used materials with buying new. Interactive displays will include cost-savings information, who rescued each item, and fun facts about many of the reclaimed products.
The exhibit will prove that getting involved in building material reuse doesn’t require a whole-home renovation. Buying secondhand furniture, turning a neighbor’s leftover lumber into a DIY project, shopping at a building reuse center, or asking your contractor to salvage materials during a remodel are all ways to reduce waste.
Learn more about reusing building materials and help us celebrate the 20th anniversary of Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair, beginning Aug. 27. Throughout the 12-day exhibition, visitors can explore hands-on activities, demonstrations, and practical ideas for living more sustainably.