Sarah Mason Mayor’s Office, Environmental Programming City of Houston Case Study of Funding through TCEQ & COGs City of Houston Building Materials Reuse Warehouse September 1, 2009 Sarah Mason Mayor’s Office, Environmental Programming City of Houston

Objectives Overview Background and History Funding Sources Lessons Learned www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

What is it? The Reuse Warehouse accepts building materials that are in new or reusable condition from builders, remodelers, businesses and the general public. www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

How does it work? Materials are accepted for FREE. Materials are distributed for FREE to non-profit groups. The facility has 11,000 sq ft. of covered space but is not climate controlled. www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

What does the Warehouse take? Bricks, Doors, Lighting Fixtures, Lumber, Plywood, Roofing Material, Sinks, Showers, Sheetrock, Shingles, Tile, Toilets (low flow only), Tools What does the Warehouse not take? Paint, Appliances, Upholstered Furniture, Broken Items, Rotten Wood, Previously Used Asphalt Shingles, Fluorescent Light Fixtures *We are Reuse not a Recycling Center* www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Types of Materials Collected www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Why is the City doing this? Mayor White tasked his Office of Environmental Programming to examine new ways to encourage recycling. A 2004 – 2005 study completed by H-GAC and HARC, showed approximately 38% of the waste stream in the Houston area is construction and demolition (C&D) material. The City of Houston became determined to see what could be done to encourage the diversion of some of this material. Nationally, C&D Warehouses/Re-Use Stores have proven a common model of providing needed storage. Many of these have shown success not only at diverting material but also at providing community development opportunities. Locally, Dan Phillips of Huntsville, TX worked with the city of Huntsville to establish a warehouse at the local transfer station. Dan uses reclaimed material to build homes that are affordable both in acquisition and operation. www.phoenixcommotion.com Background www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Environmental Stewardship: Reuse Warehouse To create and nurture a culture wherein there is a demand for reclaimed housing materials because of the value they offer. To provide a model of opportunity for using this material stream in housing through a pilot initiative which fosters partnership between community stakeholders. To examine how the City of Houston may help support a community organization in addressing the storage of reclaimed material. Guiding Objectives www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Other Reuse Centers Already in Operation Model Warehouses Materials for the Arts: NYC, NY BRING Recycling: Glenwood, OR TIP (Trash Into Plowshares) Warehouse: Huntsville, TX Historic Houston: Houston, TX Habitat Re-Store: Houston, TX www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

How we got our start Awarded $150,000 H-GAC Solid Waste Reduction Grant, 2008 Utilizing surplus City of Houston property 9003 N. Main Houston, TX 77022 Partnering with Living Paradigm Officially opened for operation June 23rd, 2009 36 Tons Diverted as of September 1, 2009 Complementary site use will include an additional neighborhood depository, recycling drop-off, and office space www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Current and Future Initiatives Pilot Residential and Building Site Pickup Partnership with Living Paradigm Monthly inventory newsletter Drop-off boxes at Neighborhood Depositories Saturday Hours Building Workshops www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Keys to Success Project team Determination Funding Supportive Leaders Reuse Warehouse Now Open! Project team Determination Funding Supportive Leaders Reuse Warehouse Pre-opening www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Application Specifics Identified a partner organization Offered substantial matching funds Provided an innovative idea based on previous H-GAC study Learn from past recipients www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Stretching Grant Dollars Kept costs low for office space by utilizing the City of Houston Surplus and Salvage Avoided land acquisition costs and provided matching dollars by reusing city owned property Worked closely with grant contractor at H-GAC to amend the budget with the project www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Budget Breakdown: $150,000 Supplies: $275 Equipment: $49,500 Construction: $38,700 Contractual: $26,000 Other: $35,500 www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Supplies: $275 Office supplies www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Equipment: $49,500 Forklift and Floor scale Pick-up Truck and Flatbed Trailer www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Construction: $38,700 Allotted $30,000 in grant budget to help renovate existing site Paired grant funds with COH CIP funds Matched the $30,000 from grant with over $200,000 from City of Houston CIP budget. www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Contractual: $26,000 Two full-time temporary employees Power washing the site Logo design www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Other: $35,500 www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Other www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Grand Opening June 23, 2009 www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Publicity Change Magazine Houston City Savvy Channel 2 News KPFT Eco-Ology HTV Wasting No Time Mention the upcoming booth at the Houston Home and Garden Show Change Magazine, Houston June 2009 www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Donor Benefits Greener Business Processes Simplified process for getting materials into the hands of groups that can use them. Donation Receipt Tracking of loads by weight (useful for LEED projects) Ton Club Recognition (1, 5, 10, 25 tons) Potentially reduced disposal costs www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Community Impact Helped 13 not-for-profit organizations Texas Adaptive Aquatics UH Grad Design Build Program Living Paradigm Adopt A Cat A New Life Independence Heights Redevelopment Council Buddhist Congregational Church Chapel of Excellence Lending Helping Hands to Others Workshop Houston Lighthouse Animal Foundation www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Lessons Learned Stay on top of the details: report requirements, budget amendments, purchasing deadlines Know the procurement processes of your organization Build a team to help manage grant Be creative in your project idea Go with the flow – stay flexible www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Contact Information 9003 N. Main St. Houston, TX 77022 City of Houston Building Materials Reuse Warehouse 9003 N. Main Houston, TX 77022 281-814-3324 reuse.warehouse@cityofhouston.net www.houstonreuse.org Sarah Mason Mayor’s Office, City of Houston Sarah.mason@cityofhouston.net 832.393.0997 www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018

Thank you! Questions? www.houstonreuse.org 9/18/2018