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EPA GRANT HELPS NON-PROFIT REDUCE 3,800 TONS OF LANDFILL WASTE

Release Date: 4/24/2002
Contact Information: Wendy L. Chavez, EPA Press Office, 415/947-4248, Alan Goodyke, Stardust Non-Profit, 480/668-0467

     SAN FRANCISCO   A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant awarded to Stardust Non-Profit Building Supplies, Inc. has helped eliminate 3,800 tons of construction materials from going into Phoenix area landfills by recycling and reusing the materials.
         
     The EPA awarded the $40,000 grant in August 2001 to the Phoenix non-profit to get the innovative waste reduction program off the ground.  Stardust is using the funding for its deconstruction crews that dismantle and salvage reusable building materials from area homes and buildings being torn down.

     "This grant money provides a win-win solution to a long-standing problem.  More that 132 million tons of construction and demolition debris are landfilled annually," said Jeff Scott, the EPA's Waste Division director for the Pacific Southwest office.  "We hope more developers and builders get involved in this unique program to recycle and reuse valuable building materials."

     "Morgan Construction, Darre Builders, The Great Indoors and Inside Jobs have been our partners since the program began, and now we're ready to expand.  It just makes good business as well as environmental sense for a builder, demolition company or remodeling company to let our crews do the removal of reusable materials, a process that normally takes away from their bottom line," says Alan Goodyke, executive director of Stardust. "Reusable materials are kept out of landfills, they are used to help strengthen our low income neighborhoods, the company's client is now a donor with a receipt and the company itself saves in labor and disposal costs.  Everybody wins."    

     Stardust receives materials through donations left over from the construction and remodeling industry or from items that have been removed from existing structures prior to demolition.  
     
     The materials are then resold from its two 25,000 sq. ft. facilities to low-income families throughout the Phoenix valley.  The items are discounted up to 80 percent below regular retail, or donated to non-profit shelters, housing or assistance organizations that need help.
                             
     The non-profit's "Angels on Call" program provides skilled, volunteer labor to repair or install critical, basic home elements, including sinks, toilets and doors.

     Stardust Building Supplies has stores in Phoenix and Mesa.  For additional information, or to schedule crews, contact Terry Fair at (480)695-8555.