Submitted by: ReUse Works
In 2005 ReUse Works launched our first training business, Appliance Depot – an innovative business model that provides job training for low income residents of Whatcom County by tapping into the appliance waste stream. Since its inception, 400 residents have received job experience and training. These hard-working individuals have helped salvage, repair and sell appliances.
In the eleven years since Appliance Depot opened its doors, we’ve made a significant impact on our local economy and environment:
- 40,000 appliances diverted from the waste stream
- 10,500 appliances saved for reuse by low income households
- 3000 tons of scrap metal recycled
- $3 million revenue generated by converting trash into treasure!
In 2014 ReUse Works added a new venture to its training and reuse program: Ragfinery. Ragfinery built on the success of Appliance Depot’s business model, utilizing discarded textiles as source material to provide jobs, job training, resources for artists and education about creative reuse.
In two-and-a-half years, this textile reuse center has made a big impact:
- 27 worker trainees have gained essential skills for entering or re-entering the workforce
- 400,000 pounds of textiles have been diverted from the landfill. YES, 400,000 POUNDS!
- 4,200 community members have recycled textiles
- 600 people have learned new skills at our fun upcycling workshops
Here is some of the feedback we’ve been receiving from the community:
“My head just spins with creativity when I visit your shop!” Margaret said. “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for what you do.”
“I am so excited by Ragfinery and what it is doing in, and for, Bellingham,” Kathleen said. “Having access to such wonderful fabrics, that are about to be dumped into the landfill is so great. Learning how to use fabrics, and turn them into art pieces is really expanding my artistic and sewing horizons. Classes are great and building community is an asset to the northwest.”
The long-term goal of ReUse Works is to make our operations for both Appliance Depot and Ragfinery financially sustainable. While Appliance Depot became self-sustaining in 2010, over the last two years scrap prices disappeared, leaving a significant hole in our budget that appliance sales alone cannot cover. Over the long-term, our hope is that scrap prices will return. In the meantime, in order to provide life-changing job training opportunities and continue our sustainable business model, we need the financial support of our community.
Ragfinery is still in the development phase, working toward being self-sustaining in the next two to three years. Our staff, trainees, volunteers, students and customers are passionate about what we do. We’ve tapped into something very special with this program, and it is truly a community supported endeavor.
You can help provide much needed job training opportunities for those struggling to find work and make a positive impact on our environment by keeping valuable resources out of the landfill. Your support helps ReUse Works continue to help others in need and to lessen our community’s impact on the earth.
Would you consider donating to help us achieve our mission? You can either donate online at ragfinery.com, call us at 360-527-2646, send a check in mail (address below), or swing by Ragfinery or Appliance Depot to drop off a donation. Your donation is greatly appreciated and will be used to purchase the tools and to pay for the infrastructure needed to keep our operations running. We thank you in advance for your support!
