
Recycling and Composting
Discover useful tips and resources for recycling and composting at home:
- Tips for composting at home
- opens in a new windowVermicomposting Tips
- Five Tips for Smarter Recycling
- Not sure how to dispose of something? Visit Recycle Smart MA or use their Recyclopedia tool below!
Deconstruction
The EPA estimated that around opens in a new window600 million tons of construction and demolition materials were thrown away in the U.S. in 2018. These discarded materials come from building demolitions and renovations and their total weight is opens in a new windowmore than double that of all other yearly U.S. municipal solid waste. A great way to divert this waste from landfills and give salvageable materials a second life is through deconstruction.
Deconstruction is the process of taking a building apart, piece by piece, and salvaging appliances and materials instead of demolishing it. Up to opens in a new window70% of materials can be recycledopens PDF file , and up to opens in a new window25% of materials can be reusedopens PDF file in a home deconstruction. This can be done in two ways: a soft strip or a full deconstruction.
Benefits of Deconstruction:
Deconstruction is a cost competitive alternative to conventional building demolition. By reusing building materials, many environmental and social benefits can be realized, including:
- Reducing the consumption of new resources
- Creating value-added market from waste materials
- Minimizing landfill waste and pollution
- Expanding job opportunities and workforce development skills
Helpful Resources:
- opens in a new windowEcoBuilding Bargains
- opens in a new windowDeconstruction in Connecticut: How to Startopens PDF file
- Promoting the Practice of Deconstructionopens PDF file
- Deconstructing Deconstruction blog
Spread the word about deconstruction! Share these graphics to your social media pages.


Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste is waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, gases, or sludges. They can be discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides, or the by-products of manufacturing processes. Dispose of hazardous waste properly.
EcoBuilding Bargains
opens in a new windowEcoBuilding Bargains is the largest used building materials store in New England, offering incredible deals on reused and surplus materials! EcoBuilding Bargains is an enterprise of the Center for EcoTechnology.
- Located at 83 Warwick Street in Springfield, MA
- Schedule a free pick up of opens in a new windowitems to donate
- opens in a new windowShop for unique salvaged items at great prices
- EcoBuilding Bargains makes a huge environmental impact by diverting 400 tons of useful materials from landfills each year.
CONTACT US about EcoBuilding Bargains
Call: (413) 788-6900opens phone dialer Email: ecobuildingbargains@cetonline.org
EcoBuilding Bargain Customer Stories
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Kitchen Deconstruction Case Study
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Reuse Rockstar | Spring 2018
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Church Pews from EcoBuilding Bargains Given a New Life at Luthier's Coop, Easthampton
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EcoBuilding Bargains | Iconica Social Club
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EcoBuilding Bargains | Reuse Rockstar | Allison Wyman
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EcoBuilding Bargains | Reuse RockStar | Heather Salvatore
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Cassandra Doty, Cabot Pub II, Reuse Rockstar
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Cassandra Doty, Cabot Pub II, Reuse Rockstar
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Yankee Home Improvement Donates to EcoBuilding Bargains!
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A Conversation with Customer Susan Hoadley
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A Conversation with Ritch Holben | Rh Design
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Narragansett Deconstruction | EcoBuilding Bargains
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From Concepts to Reality, Start an Upcycled Adventure