Denver: The city’s Climate Action Office unveils an interactive directory to connect residents with local businesses focused on reuse, recycling, and repair, supporting environmental goals and stimulating the local economy while promoting community engagement in sustainable practices.
The City of Denver’s Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) Office is actively engaged in efforts to reduce consumption, waste, and pollution, as part of a broader initiative to transition towards a more sustainable circular economy. This approach aims to promote practices centred around sharing, repairing, recycling, and reusing materials.
To facilitate this goal, CASR has recently introduced the Denver Reuse Business Directory, an interactive map and listing designed to connect residents with local businesses that focus on repairing, renting, or purchasing used items. A spokesperson for CASR emphasised that the directory is intended to educate Denverites on minimising waste by utilizing nearby resale and rental options.
Chris Scott, the director of operations at ReCreative Denver, a nonprofit included in the directory, highlighted the significance of the initiative. “The fact that they even made the reuse directory says something about the certain ambitions of the city,” Scott remarked. ReCreative Denver offers a range of services, such as an art gallery exhibiting upcycled works by local artist Elizabeth Morisette, studio spaces for artists, and a community wood shop. Central to its mission is the collection of donated art supplies, which are sold at reduced prices. Scott described the operation as “like Goodwill for arts and crafts supplies,” assuring that the organisation strives to repurpose as much of the collected material as possible.
The range of supplies available at ReCreative Denver varies widely, from textiles and paints to unusual items like origami paper. Scott reflected on the surprising volume of materials that people discard, a phenomenon he has observed since joining the nonprofit in 2016.
Kelly Eigenberger, the program director at ReCreative Denver, shared her perspective on the role of the supplies. “Working here is so fun. And I’m a little raccoon, and I get to dig through other people’s stuff and often find, like, really interesting things,” Eigenberger explained, adding that it is rewarding to see the materials being transformed creatively. She provided an example, stating, “Seeing my friends succeed in a fashion show because they get most of their material here” illustrates the impact of these donations on the community.
Another noteworthy organisation listed in the directory is the Denver Tool Library, which operates under a similar reuse philosophy. Sarah Steiner, the founder and executive director, noted the unique aspect of the library, where members can borrow tools for various projects. “You can come and borrow tools to take home and work on your project, or you can come work on your project here in open shop,” Steiner elaborated. Since its founding ten years ago, the Denver Tool Library has expanded its range of services while maintaining its core mission of promoting the repair and reuse of tools.
Membership at the Denver Tool Library costs $150 per year, granting access to a plethora of tools and fostering a community focused on sustainable practices. Steiner expressed her satisfaction with the growing engagement in this approach: “By being a part of a community where people are interested in and willing to repair tools instead of just throw them away, it’s huge.”
According to CASR, businesses within the Denver Reuse Business Directory collectively employed approximately 3,000 individuals and contributed an estimated $540 million to the local economy in 2023, reflecting the potential of such initiatives to create economic and environmental benefits within the community.
Source: Noah Wire Services
