Laguna Beach, CA: Deconstruction & Reuse Network (DRN) and the Institution Recycling Network (IRN) today announced a partnership that will expand opportunities for charitable reuse of surplus property and building materials. DRN is a California-based environmental and humanitarian non-profit specializing in disassembling, or “deconstructing”, residential structures and facilitating the reuse of building materials for charitable purposes. IRN matches surplus with a network of more than 30 global charitable organizations that place the surplus in disaster relief and economic development projects in the U.S. and worldwide.
IRN has been working in California since 2005. IRN has done surplus projects for Harvey Mudd College, Pomona College, Claremont-McKenna College, the University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Clara University, and nearly a dozen other schools and corporations in the region. Today’s announced partnership with the Deconstruction and Reuse Network will dramatically increase these capabilities. In the past eight years IRN has placed more than 25 million pounds of surplus in 43 countries and 23 U.S. states.
According to DRN President Lorenz Schilling, “Partnering with IRN enables us to expand our charitable reuse options for our clients, thereby diverting fixed assets and surplus property from California’s overcrowded landfills and benefitting underserved communities beyond our state. Our partnership will put DRN staff onsite in California to evaluate and manage projects on IRN’s turnkey model.”
Dana Draper, IRN’s Chief of Operations, approved the partnership for IRN. “We know DRN shares our commitment to be efficient, thorough, and cost-effective. Rather than put our own staff in the field, it made much more sense to partner with a group that already has a regional presence and experience. With DRN at our side, we can be onsite immediately at almost any location in California to scope out a project, prepare a proposal, and get the project in motion.”
For IRN clients like Brian Worley of the Claremont McKenna College, this is good news. In the past several years Worley has been involved in 12 projects with IRN, resulting in more than 73 tons of surplus furniture kept out of the landfill and shipped to be reused. “Every school and company in California should be thinking about reuse,” he says. “It’s just as easy as throwing surplus away. It costs less than throwing surplus away. It helps fulfill our sustainability goals. It’s the best solution socially and for the environment. We’re very happy that IRN is expanding its services here in California. Reuse is something whose time has come.”
DRN begins the process by identifying and inventorying all reusable (and donation-worthy) items throughout the home. Next, the deconstruction contractor for DRN’s Deconstruction Solution Program carefully dismantles the interior of the home and organizes all salvageable materials under DRN’s direction. DRN always pursues reuse for salvaged items as they are, rather than recycling them, because it uses less energy and reduces the long-term environmental impact.
About Deconstruction & ReUse Network:
Deconstruction & ReUse Network is an environmental public benefit corporation 501(c)(3), whose mission is to promote and empower deconstruction practices and to grow a greater reuse network for quality building materials through partnerships with complimentary operations and organizations. Deconstruction & ReUse Network currently serves Northern and Southern California with partnerships that benefit Habitat for Humanity and Corazon. www.Decon-Network.org Blog: http://recycleyourhouse.blogspot.com
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Media Contacts:
Lorenz Schilling
DRN Founder/President
T: 562-307-6065
Lorenz@reusenetwork.org
Angela Moore
Starfish P.R.
T: 310-429-8868
angela@starfish-pr.com