Reuse is the recovery and distribution of discarded, yet perfectly usable materials. It’s an environmentally and economically sound alternative to export and landfilling. And in contrast to recycling, which processes discards to extract components, reuse preserves materials resources, including the value of the materials, labor, technology, and energy incorporated in them.

By taking useful products and exchanging them, without remanufacturing or reprocessing, reuse saves time, money, energy and resources. In broader economic terms, reuse offers quality products to people with limited means, while generating jobs and business activity that contribute to the city’s economy.

Regardless of your business or need, reuse is a great way of lowering your costs either in purchase of materials or in their disposal, and of course, contributing to a cleaner environment and less wasteful society.

Reuse in the NY Metro Area. Our area is fortunate to have several successful reuse enterprises in our area, handling a wide variety of materials from computers, building materials and office furniture, to industrial discards, bicycles, textiles and surplus food.

Our local reuse programs:
- Conserve valuable resources & prevent waste
- Offer affordable, quality materials to those on tight budgets.
- Support businesses and individuals by offering donors outlets for unwanted material, along with tax benefits and reduced disposal costs.

The Need. Although local reuse programs have a significant social impact and divert thousands of tons of material each year - the number and scale of reuse efforts must increase to have a substantial effect on NYC’s trash burden.

Supporting Reuse. The potential of our growing sector to manage local resources is enormous - but increased investment and development is needed. To address the issues facing our sector regional reuse programs came together and formed Reuse Alliance.

Reuse Alliance (RA) is a non-profit organization of, and for, reuse enterprises in the NYC area metro area. RA strengthens the reuse sector for wider community benefit by providing programs and resources that support effective, strategic waste prevention activities and public education. (For more information go to About Us)