BETTER FUTURES MINNESOTA�DECONSTRUCTION & REUSE
How local partners can grow end markets
Association of Recycling Managers | Better Futures Minnesota
JASON ALLEN • ALEX BALDWIN
BETTER FUTURES MINNESOTA
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
The 3 Pillars of Better Futures Minnesota
02
OUR THREE PILLARS
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
People, planet and economy guide the work.
PEOPLE
Paid work, training and support help participants gain skills and build stability.
PLANET
Recovery keeps usable materials in circulation and reduces disposal.
ECONOMY
Services and reuse retail create local value and help sustain the enterprise.
A recovered item can support all three pillars when it reaches a real next user.
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HOW THE MODEL WORKS
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Waste diversion is a setting for workforce development.
Better Futures crews carry out environmental services with training and supervision.
Recovered materials move toward reuse, recycling or other responsible outlets.
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TRAINING
PAID WORK�EXPERIENCE
RECOVERY
COMMUNITY
The work connects a practical environmental service to a pathway for people.
CURRENT WASTE DIVERSION
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Four active services bring materials out of the waste stream and toward reuse.
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MATERIAL�RECOVERY
One mission.�Several settings.
1 DECONSTRUCTION
Carefully salvage components from buildings.
2 REUSE WAREHOUSE
Sell useful materials to the public.
3 CURBSIDE & COLLECTION EVENTS
Collect eligible bulky items with municipal partners.
4 TRANSFER STATIONS
Recover and retail items at transfer stations / landfills.
Each service begins with a different source of material and a path to its next use.
DECONSTRUCTION
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Deconstruction: Careful & intentional removal preserves materials for their next use.
We assess buildings for recoverable components before demolition or renovation.
PLAN THE SALVAGE
Identify likely materials, removal sequence, site constraints and outlets.
REMOVE INTACT
Protect usable doors, cabinets, lumber, fixtures and other components.
ROUTE MATERIALS
Sort for direct reuse, the ReUse Warehouse or an accepting recycler.
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LOCAL GRANT EXAMPLES
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Minnesota Counties funding deconstruction�and building material reuse
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HENNEPIN
Up to $5k residential
$10k commercial
CARVER
50% of costs
up to $5k
RICE
Up to $5k
RAMSEY
R&E joint program
WASHINGTON
R&E joint program
Ramsey and Washington grants are administered jointly through Recycling & Energy.
DECONSTRUCTION × PILLARS
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
The jobsite creates more than recovered inventory.
PEOPLE
Crews practice safe tool use, planning and teamwork in paid work.
PLANET
Selective removal gives components a chance to remain in use.
ECONOMY
Salvage can create resale inventory and reduce disposal demand.
The removal plan, material condition and intended outlet determine what recovery can deliver.
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REUSE WAREHOUSE
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
The warehouse connects salvaged materials with local buyers.
JOBSITE
WAREHOUSE
CUSTOMER
NEXT PROJECT
HOMEOWNERS
Find affordable and sustainable materials for repairs and remodeling.
CONTRACTORS
Buy usable components for projects with flexible specifications.
MAKERS
Use distinctive wood, fixtures and hardware in custom work.
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BULKY ITEM CURBSIDE
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Curbside Collection and Collection Events bring access and opportunity to residents.
PICKUP
Partner with a municipality to collect eligible bulky materials at the curb or designated location.
TRIAGE
Identify what can be reused, recycled or otherwise managed responsibly.
ACCESS
Lowers barriers to allow greater participation for residents.
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BECKER COUNTY + CAMBRIDGE
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Waste diversion at transfer stations to capture materials not ready for end of life.
PARTNERSHIPS
Better Futures works with Becker County and the East Central Solid Waste Commission in Cambridge.
RECOVERY
Staff identify and prepare reusable items at both facilities before disposal.
LOCAL STORES
ReUse stores at the Becker County and Cambridge transfer stations offer recovered goods to residents.
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MASONRY & METALS
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Heavy materials have different outlets and economics.
BRICK + STONE
Sound units may be reused in landscaping or restoration. Cleaning and transport matter.
CONCRETE
Clean concrete can be crushed into aggregate where an accepting facility exists.
These streams need a confirmed outlet and freight plan before the job begins.
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LUMBER & WOOD
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Dimensional lumber and specialty wood can serve several markets.
REUSE AS LUMBER
Straight, sound boards can support repair, small construction and maker projects.
MILL OR REPURPOSE
Distinctive timbers and flooring may be remilled or turned into new products.
WOOD RECYCLING
Clean, accepted wood can move to a processor when reuse is not feasible.
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MARKET LIMITS
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Some materials cost more to recover than a buyer will pay.
TIME + LABOR
Careful removal and cleaning require crew hours and schedule access.
CONDITION + SAFETY
Damage, contamination, code constraints and missing parts can eliminate reuse.
SPACE + FREIGHT
Bulky, low-demand items can consume storage and transport capacity.
Use the highest practical outlet supported by condition, demand and total cost.
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URBAN MACHINE: LUMBER REUSE
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Urban Machine and the conditions for reclaimed lumber.
RECOVER
Set aside sound lumber for reuse.
REMOVE FASTENERS
Robotic tools remove fasteners and check for metal.
NEXT BUILDING USE
Use cleaned lumber on site or sell it to another project.
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Photo: Urban Machine | urbanmachine.build/the-machine
CREATING A NEW END MARKET
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
ReACT gives salvaged acoustic tiles a different building use.
COLLECT
Recover ceiling tiles as a separate, protected stream and palletize for pickup.
REMANUFACTURE
Process the recovered material into an insulation product with consistent specifications.
NEW APPLICATION
Supply the insulation for a building project, creating demand beyond replacement ceiling tiles.
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illustrative example supplied by REUSE.STUDIO
PARTNERSHIPS
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Public projects, contractors and buyers all shape the next use.
PROPERTY OWNERS
CITIES + COUNTIES
CONTRACTORS
REUSE BUYERS
DESIGNERS / ARCHITECTS
ARTISTS
MATERIALS
PUT TO USE
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MEASURING END MARKETS
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Track where materials actually land.
MATERIAL
• Items and tons recovered�• Condition at intake�• Reused versus recycled�• Residual disposal
BUYER
• Sales by material category�• Repeat customers�• Time to sale�• Confirmed direct reuse
ECONOMICS
• Removal and handling cost�• Storage days�• Revenue or avoided cost�• Cost per outlet
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REUSE + END MARKETS
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Reuse and end markets strengthen one another
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REUSE
Recover and prepare
END MARKETS
Buy and put to use
Reliable, usable materials
Buyer demand
Reuse needs buyers; end markets need reliable, usable materials.
Strong demand supports recovery, while consistent supply helps buyers choose reclaimed materials for future projects.
PUBLIC LEVERS
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Cities and counties can help turn recovered supply into repeat demand.
PROJECTS
BUY
CAPACITY
PROOF
- Public projects can buy reclaimed materials. Shared capacity and verified destinations help repeat use.
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- Increase public funding to promote deconstruction and reuse efforts.
- Diversion and reuse programs at transfer stations/ municipal sites.
DISCUSSION
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
How can we increase the end markets for reclaimed building materials?
JOBSITE
OUTLET
BUYER
PROJECT
QUESTIONS + CONVERSATION
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SOURCES / FURTHER READING
WHERE PEOPLE AND PLANET PROSPER
Programs and material market references
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BFM
Our approach and workforce model: betterfuturesminnesota.com/our-approach/
02
BFM
Deconstruction and reuse retail: betterfuturesminnesota.com/services/
03
BFM
Bulky curbside collection: betterfuturesminnesota.com/curbside-collections/
04
BFM
Becker and Cambridge diversion: betterfuturesminnesota.com/material-reuse-waste-diversion/
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BFM
Cambridge ReUse Store partnership: betterfuturesminnesota.com/cambridge-reuse/
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EPA
C&D materials markets and best practices: epa.gov/smm/
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07
URBAN MACHINE
Robotic lumber recovery: urbanmachine.build/the-machine
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REUSE.STUDIO
ReACT illustrative example: reuse.studio