Reduce, reuse and recycle construction materials

Further to the previous post, a recent personal project I've been working on, The Freegan Greenhouse, has highlighted the need to make more of our construction industry waste materials. During the constuction of this and some accompanying raised beds, I had to buy new timber for the structure... which bugged me somewhat. Whilst building the raised beds it was suggested to me that the local timber yard might have some overstock or miscuts, and guess what they did! after that a client of mine suggested that a simple search on ebay might have turned up some interesting results for over stock timber in the local area, and you know what, that did too! a little late for me but not so late I can't pass it on.

The 'Net' result of this (if you'll pardon the pun) is that todays post is all about online resources which cater for the more eco-aware among us who are trying to source materials to keep them out of landfill.

Top of todays list is Freecycle possibly the most well known site for this kind of thing, best thing about it is everything is free, worst thing is you never know when something will posted that you need. Its not a wishlist for those wanting the next big games console, but it is a way of passing on old furniture and the like that would otherwise be wining its way to the tip.

Next up is a new one to me, tradeleftovers.com/ is an interesting site that does what it says on the tin, contractors post up their overstock, miscut and incorrectly ordered materials. The materials posted here is either free, priced or has make an offer next to it. Definitely worth a browse. Be warned it covers the whole of the UK!

Not sure how useful this one is in this context, but I think Gumtree should be included for it's craigslist like qualities.

Another untested one here Selftrading buys and sells overstock,

Self Trading is an international trader of all types of consumer products. From clothing, footwear, jewellery, electrical items, almost anything that the consumer will use! We will make offers on anything from Surplus stock, bankrupt stock, and liquidated stock to Superstore Clearances. We guarantee to make an offer on your stock regardless of where you are in the world!

currently has things like a warehouse mezzanine and some stair balustrading spindles!

ecoconstruction.org has a very useful links page which has lead me to

recycledproducts which is a directory of products containing recycled materials.

Salvoweb is a directory of architectural salvage websites. I love looking around these places... full of so much potential!

Finally, Wrap has a bunch of information about recycling in general, including construction materials.