Whether you’re a DIY home repair expert, a vintage furniture aficionado, or just in the market for some lightly used plumbing fixtures, home reuse stores are an irreplaceable resource to find hidden gems at a reasonable price.
They also give items ranging from lumber to lighting a second life, keeping valuable materials out of the landfill. This important waste reduction potential led King County’s Solid Waste Division to team up with Second Use, a local business that sells reclaimed building materials at locations in Seattle and Tacoma, to launch a reuse pilot program outside of the Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station.
Customers on their way to the transfer station can stop by the reuse area to drop off materials including cabinets, doors, windows, and lumber in good condition for free. On a given day, accepted items can range from typical – furniture and light fixtures – to the more unexpected – bidets and antique deli slicers.
The project will help divert high-quality construction materials and household items from the landfill, aligning with King County’s broader Re+ efforts, an initiative to reinvent the region’s solid waste system and cut greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning to a sustainable circular economy.
The reuse area is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., near the Shoreline station entrance. The pilot, which is operated and managed by Second Use, began in early August, and will run into early 2025.
“We see this program as huge opportunity to reclaim materials that would otherwise go to waste,” said Dirk Wassink, president of Second Use. “By keeping these items out of the landfill, we are not only conserving resources but also reducing the demand for new materials.”
Cynthia Adams, Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station supervisor, expressed the value of the pilot in advancing King County’s waste reduction goals. “You’d be surprised how often we have customers bringing perfectly good stuff – furniture, light fixtures, doors, and other building materials – to our tipping floor,” she said. “Having an easy option for customers to drop off their reusable items right outside of the transfer station will really help reduce the material we’re sending to our landfill.”
In addition to the partnership with Second Use, King County is working to increase salvage and reuse in the region. The Solid Waste Division has developed a job training program to promote deconstruction – a method of salvaging materials from structures slated for removal so those materials can be more easily reused and recycled – to help support an industry transition. The County has also provided grants to businesses focused on salvage and reuse through the Re+ Circular Economy Grant program.
Kinley Deller, King County’s construction and demolition program coordinator, emphasized the environmental benefits of the County’s salvage and reuse work. “Each year, we see over 60,000 tons of clean wood go to the landfill. This pilot, alongside other efforts to promote more salvage and reuse, is a critical step in reducing those numbers. By reusing materials, we’re not only cutting down on waste but reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
King County and Second Use will evaluate the success of the project over the six-month pilot period. Based on the performance of the pilot, King County and Second Use could extend the project or make it a permanent fixture at the Shoreline station.
In addition to supporting climate and waste reduction goals, the pilot will provide tangible community benefits. Increasing the availability of reusable construction materials helps provide contractors, homeowners, and DIY enthusiasts with more affordable options for their building and repair projects.
“Ultimately, our partnership with King County is about more than just waste diversion,” said Wassink. “We want this program to inspire people to rethink waste. By making opportunities for reuse easier, we can all work together to move away from our throwaway system and build a more circular economy.”
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