Reuse and deconstruction are growing in Minnesota, and we're excited about the opportunities to help lead Minnesota to a cleaner, Zero Waste future! Recently, we were featured in the Star Tribune, where Neal St. Anthony highlighted our ReUse Warehouse, online store, and deconstruction services.

Two nonprofit enterprises, Better Futures Minnesota and Habitat for Humanity, are opening used building-materials, appliance and fixtures stores within a block of each other on a mile of Minnehaha Avenue S. between 26^th and 38^th streets that features retailers peddling used and recycled goods.

Better Futures Minnesota recently opened its store at 26^th and Minnehaha and also launched an online e-commerce site for reclaimed building materials. Better Futures, which employs 72, most of whom are reentering the workforce from prison, also provides “deconstruction services” that Hennepin County says are cost-effective and better alternatives to demolition. Eighty five percent of a building is recycled.

“We look at how to minimize construction and demolition waste going to the landfill,” said Paul Kroening, a supervising environmentalist at Hennepin County. “Better Futures is the only one providing deconstruction services, and it works well with employment training and improving lives.”

In 2015, nearly 700 tons of material was recycled or reused, thanks to Better Futures deconstruction services. More info: www.betterfuturesminnesota.com

Check out the full story here!