REUSE ADVOCACY + RESEARCH

We can’t create a truly circular economy without policies at the Local, State, and National level that encourage reuse.  These include everything from Right to Repair Legislation, and Extended Producer Responsibility Laws, to Deconstruction Ordinances, and Climate Action Plans.  We partner with policy organizations to make sure legislation works for practitioners and to amplify the calls for change. 

Read our favorite reuse reports here.

Write your representative to demand more support for reuse.

Achievements

2021

  • We won the California Resource Recovery Association Pavitra Crimmel Reuse Award for our work on the Bay Area Deconstruction Workgroup

2022

  • Co-hosted 2 fixit clinics in Sonoma County

  • Hosted a Reuse Roundtable for Sonoma County

  • Fiscally sponsored a local service group that serves low-income home care workers and farmworkers, their families and the families that they serve

  • Recirculated lumber, building materials, food and textiles into our local community through our partners

  • Organized 2 CalGreen subcommittee meetings to develop reuse language for this California Green Building Code

2023

  • Led a Deconstruction, Reuse and C&D Workgroup for changes to CalGreen with complete recommendations due by August 2023
    Led the Build Reuse Language Workgroup to develop definitions for deconstruction and reuse related terminology, as well as develop policy related positions for specific terms.

  • Begun publishing Reuse News monthly to share stories, opportunities and positive reuse news.

  • Increased the frequency and scope of the Reuse + Repair Fair and Reuse Roundtable programs.

  • Helped draft and pass the Sonoma County Construction Demolition & Deconstruction (CD&D) model ordinance and begun working with ZWS to ensure broad adoption and training.

  • Written numerous letter of support and comments on national reuse legislation, funding and definitions.