Welcome!
The purpose of the Material Reuse Program is to divert C+D (construction and demolition) waste from sites on the UGA campus and within the Athens region and actively reuse these "waste" materials on community-based and student projects. Students learn the value of reuse by utilizing reclaimed materials in hands-on landscape construction projects. In addition to the ecological benefits of diverting and reusing waste, salvaged materials provide numerous economic incentives and societal benefits. The Material Reuse Program is a part of the College of Environment + Design. For more information contact Program Coordinator Chris McDowell at 504.644.8118.
LABASH 2013 Service Project - A community space in East Athens
Project complete.
Snyder Barn Deconstruction Complete
After three full weeks starting on December 30, the Reuse Program in conjunction with the Joel Bacon's Vet Med crew, successfully disassembled more than 50,000 lbs [25 tons] of a circa 1978 horse barn for reuse or recycling! Additionally, we are documenting the metrics of diversion rates (waste, recycling and reuse) in partnership with Matan Mayer of the Harvard Graduate School of Design. These numbers will then be used in the LEED accreditation process of the future Vet Med Teaching Hospital. Much of this material already has a reuse application forthcoming. For a slide show of the process of building deconstruction go to the Snyder Decon page.
MLK Jr. Day of Service 2013: West Broad Market Garden
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NEW PROJECTS: LAND Ecology Service Learning Projects
This year's LAND Ecology undergraduate students have embarked on four ambitious public projects with the Reuse Program that will transform each space utilizing what every designer envies... a $0 budget. Students have been asked to "work with what ya got," thus ALL materials in these projects will be local, recycled, reused or repurposed to the fullest extent possible. Stay tuned to see the works in progress! For volunteer opportunities contact the Material Reuse Program at 504.644.8118.
1. Reuse Program Facility
Team: Andrew; Joe and Steven
Materials: Reused Pallets (Fence); Reused Concrete Slabs (Raised Beds);Recycled Concrete Aggregate (Path); Salvaged Brick and Wood
Materials: Reused Pallets (Fence); Reused Concrete Slabs (Raised Beds);Recycled Concrete Aggregate (Path); Salvaged Brick and Wood
2. Clarke Central High School Teaching Garden
Team: Mike, Katherine, John, Kevin and Siyu
Materials: Reused Concrete Slabs (Patio); Reused Granite Block (Walls); Recycled Concrete Aggregate (Footings); Reclaimed Wood (Raised Beds); River Rock
Materials: Reused Concrete Slabs (Patio); Reused Granite Block (Walls); Recycled Concrete Aggregate (Footings); Reclaimed Wood (Raised Beds); River Rock
3. Casa de Amistad Community Space
Team: Sarah, Andrew, Danny and Suin
Materials: Reclaimed Lumber (Fence, Edging, Bench, Shade Structure); Recycled Concrete Aggregate (Path); Double Ground Mulch; Reclaimed Pavers (Patio)
Materials: Reclaimed Lumber (Fence, Edging, Bench, Shade Structure); Recycled Concrete Aggregate (Path); Double Ground Mulch; Reclaimed Pavers (Patio)
4. Brooklyn Community Garden (Rehab)
Team: Matt, Quynh, Kale and Michael
Materials: Reclaimed Lumber (Raised Beds/Shade Structure); Native Stone (Veggie Bed) Recycled Concrete Aggregate (Patio); Reused Mesh Shade Cloth (Shade Structure); Reused Sink
Materials: Reclaimed Lumber (Raised Beds/Shade Structure); Native Stone (Veggie Bed) Recycled Concrete Aggregate (Patio); Reused Mesh Shade Cloth (Shade Structure); Reused Sink
Lily Branch Entrance
Team: Daniel, Kevin and Mason
Materials: Reclaimed Wood (Structure, Bench, Entrance Panel); Reused Screens (Trellis)
Materials: Reclaimed Wood (Structure, Bench, Entrance Panel); Reused Screens (Trellis)
Why Reuse?
Americans create a lot of waste. As William McDonough and Michael Braumgart point out, consumer products are designed on a “linear cradle to grave model” with a “built-in obsolescence” which encourages the customer to buy newer products and discard the old regardless of where the waste will ultimately go [McDonough/Braumgart, 53]. However, as material prices go up and natural resources become scarce, reusing materials otherwise deemed “waste” is increasingly a more valuable practice. Although recycling and reuse of materials have slowly gained traction over the past few decades, keeping up with the insatiable appetite of American consumer culture is a formidable and possibly impenetrable task. Designers of the built environment have the challenge to turn the dilemma of waste into an asset for the community.
What We Do.
The Material Reuse Program actively salvages buildings on the UGA campus as well as Athens region and reuses materials on community-based and student design projects. The Program is located on South Milledge at the Old Ostrich Farm and former recycling facility. Since its inception in May of 2011, hundreds of cubic yards of waste have been salvaged and put back into the community.
