Over the past two months, ReCreateIt at the Austin Habitat for Humanity ReStore has welcomed two groups of visitors interested in learning more about how communities can reduce waste, reuse materials, and create more sustainable systems.
These visits have been a great opportunity to share what we are building at ReCreateIt, while also learning from people who are working on sustainability in their own communities.
Connecting with Sustainability Leaders from California
In early July, we welcomed a visiting group from the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy (CFEE). CFEE is an independent nonprofit organization that brings together public and private sector leaders to explore California’s complex economic, environmental, and social challenges and develop creative solutions.
The group included representatives from the California State Senate and Assembly, directors from various conservation entities across the country, and other sectors such as agriculture and automotive. Each year, CFEE organizes group trips to different cities and sometimes other countries to learn how communities are approaching issues such as waste management, water reuse, and clean energy. They bring these ideas back to California to explore how they might be applied at home.
During their visit, RCI staff led a two-hour tour through the ReStore and the plastic recycling process. The group got an inside look at the Terabot, the ReStore sales floor, the warehouse collection area, and the ReCreateIt Gigalab. We also introduced them to the process behind collecting, sorting, processing, and transforming discarded plastic into new products.
The group had many questions about what happens after the plastic is processed, particularly about the practicality and everyday uses of the products we make. Their questions gave us an opportunity to talk about not only the technology behind ReCreateIt, but also the larger challenge of turning waste into something useful within a local community.
Welcoming Austin’s Zero Waste Community
In August, we welcomed another group of visitors, this time from our own community: Austin’s Zero Waste Block Leaders (ZWBLs).
Zero Waste Block Leaders are a group of environmentally conscious volunteers that dedicate their time and knowledge to help friends, families, and neighbors learn more about recycling, composting, repurposing, repairing, and other ways to reduce waste. The program is sponsored by Austin Resource Recovery, a City of Austin entity that oversees much of the waste disposal, reuse, and recycling.
For the Block Leaders, the visit was a chance to see firsthand how ReCreateIt approaches plastic waste and reuse. We shared our process, showed them the equipment in the Gigalab, and talked about how collected plastic can be transformed into useful products instead of being sent straight to the landfill. Some of the team have begun the process of applying, hoping to continue to expand their own effect on the community and recycling.
Sharing Ideas, Building Connections
Whether it is a group of state and industry leaders traveling across the country to study sustainability solutions or local volunteers helping their neighbors reduce waste, these conversations are an important part of building a more circular community.
At ReCreateIt, we are excited to keep opening our doors, sharing what we are learning, and connecting with people who are working toward a more sustainable future.
