Dakota County Urges Homeowners To 'Rethink Remodeling'

Editor's note: The below is a public service announcement from Dakota County.

Recycling and reuse is not limited to bottles, plastics and paper—you can also recycle, reuse or donate much of the building material you may go through during a home build or remodel.

The facts:

• According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 136 million tons of construction waste is landfilled annually, which in turn makes up 20 percent of the waste in landfills.
• Last year in Dakota County, 281,000 tons of construction and demolition waste was landfilled. This is approximately 15 percent of all waste landfilled in Dakota County.
• During construction of a standard 2,000-square-foot home, 8,000 pounds of waste are typically thrown away.
• Reusing and recycling construction and demolition materials conserves landfill space, reduces the environmental impact of producing new materials, creates jobs, and can reduce overall building project expenses through avoided purchase and disposal costs.

Do it now:

• Reuse materials in your project. Instead of replacing items, consider refinishing, repairing or refacing to give items in good condition a fresh new look. Reusing items in your house can also maintain the character and style of your home.
• Salvage reusable materials from your project. Usable building materials from remodeling projects are accepted by some non-profit organizations, like Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and you may get a tax break for the donation. Try posting items on free websites such as Craigslist or freecycle.com.
• Check with local reuse options before purchasing new products. You may be surprised to find cabinets, doors, windows and flooring that are in good condition for a good price. Scroll to the bottom of the reuse page on the Dakota County website, for a listing of online reuse options.
• Close the loop—buy recycled content products. From paint to doors, the Minnesota Recycled Products Directory provides a list of local businesses selling recycled products for your next home construction project.