Didn’t Sell? Not Suitable to Donate? Here is What We Do with Those Items.
First and foremost we always try to get the best rebate check back to our customers by aggressively selling the items on Craigslist and eBay but sometimes there is no market/buyer for the item. If we are unable to sell the item we go even further and still try to find a new home for it by donating to charity. But let’s face it… some things are just not safe, sanitary or “new” enough to find a new home. In this case we do our best to salvage every recyclable piece out of the item thus eliminating by-product that must get thrown away. Here are some of our recycling partners that we commonly use.
Mountain States Wood Recyclers is our recycling partner for all wood that we accumulate. We generate scrap wood from the sofas that we dissect, the wood furniture that is in bad shape or even tree trimmings that we pick up from customers yards. Mountain States will accept all wood so long as it is broken down, contains nails no longer than 3.5”, and is free of Formica. Once the wood is dropped off at Mountain States it is sent through a chipper and repurposed as mulch. So if you have left over wood from construction or a season’s worth of tree trimmings, Mountain States Wood Recyclers is a great and affordable option for appropriately disposing of it.
Along with wood construction debris from a remodel or build often comes excess carpeting. When we get carpet scraps, carpet samples, etc. we take them to Colorado Recycling Services (CRS). CRS is a local company trying to reduce the two largest solid waste problems in the country: carpet and mattresses. CRS has a zero landfill policy and has their own recycling outlets for all materials that make up carpet and mattresses. As mentioned above we occasionally have to dissect sofas that are no longer fit for sale or donation. In addition to recycling the wood frame we also take the yellow foam that is used as cushions to CRS.
Electronics… this year old laptop that I am typing on right now is probably considered obsolete by now. There is always going to be a better computer, DVD player, television etc. Since we are a highly consumer driven nation there will always be someone willing to buy the new 3D TV which means it is out with the old stuff. We commonly pick up computers, CRT monitors, tube TVs, VCRs and these items are difficult to sell. For items like these we use Luminous Recycling, our electronics recycling partner. Luminous uses highly advanced processes and machines to break down the electronics they receive. CRT monitors and televisions go through a machine called the CRT Angel which precisely separates the leaded and unleaded portions of the tube facilitating the reuse of the glass portions. Of the electronics they process a very small percentage of materials ends up as by-product.
We were excited when we found Third Way Center, a residential treatment and educational facility for troubled teens. We learned that a lot of the teens were using garbage bags as luggage when traveling from house to house. We immediately knew how we could help Third Way Center. We often get suitcases which are not popular items on craigslist or eBay. It is good to know that we will be able to find new and very much appreciative owners of the suitcases that we receive.
All types of metals are used in the manufacturing of everyday items. If those items are suitable for sale or donation we must dissect them and remove all metal parts. Electronics have insulated copper wires in the power cords, nuts and bolts from vacuum cleaners and entire washing machines can be metal recycled. We take our scrap metal to Western Metal Recycling. They will pay you by the ton and rates depend on what type of metal you are recycling.
We are happy to have developed relationships with these companies and are indebted to them for helping us responsibly recycle items that we accumulate. This is a big part of our business and we must continue to find ways to recycle even the small amounts of by-product that we produce.