Long Island Reuse Hub Initiative

Designing Comprehensive Community-Centered Reuse Systems and Entrepreneur Pathways

The Long Island Reuse Hub Initiative will focus on reducing waste in Long Island, strengthen local reuse and repair systems, support circular economy businesses, and create new community-based job pathways. Led by the Center for Sustainable Materials Management at SUNY ESF, this program will include critical planning and development to assess reuse opportunities, engage core partners, and support reuse-focused businesses.

Reuse Hubs are places where materials that might otherwise be discarded are collected, repaired, repurposed, resold, or transformed into new products. These hubs can support construction and demolition material recovery, household goods reuse, repair services, local manufacturing, and small business development. 

Why This Matters

Long Island has a major opportunity to reduce waste while building a stronger local economy. Construction and demolition materials make up a significant portion of the waste stream, and many household goods still have value if systems exist to recover and reuse them. 

Community input is essential to this initiative. This project will help identify what infrastructure, partnerships, businesses, and community supports are needed to make reuse hubs successful across Long Island. 

Building a Circular Economy on Long Island

The Long Island Reuse Hub Initiative is designed to move beyond waste disposal and toward a more circular, community-centered system. By keeping materials in use longer, supporting local businesses, and creating accessible reuse pathways, Long Island can reduce environmental impacts while generating meaningful economic and social benefits. 

Project Goals

The Long Island Reuse Hub Initiative will: 

  • Assess the waste reduction potential of reuse hubs  

  • Identify reuse, repair, salvage, nonprofit, municipal, and private-sector partners  

  • Evaluate potential hub locations and facility needs  

  • Engage entrepreneurs and organizations interested in reuse-based businesses  

  • Support Long Island communities in shaping reuse infrastructure  

  • Develop recommendations for a scalable, community-centered reuse system  

Core Program Components

Over the course of the project, the team will develop: 

  • Reuse Feasibility Report and Hub Recommendations

  • Partner database across the reuse landscape

  • Accelerator for reuse innovators and entrepreneurs

Get Involved

Community input will be central to the project. Outreach will include residents, municipalities, businesses, repair professionals, nonprofits, community organizations, and historically underserved populations. 

Engagement will prioritize equitable participation, multilingual communication, and a clear understanding of local needs, barriers, and opportunities. 

Learn More

More information about project activities, community engagement opportunities, and future recommendations will be shared as the project moves forward. 

To stay up to date, join our mailing list!

Project Partners

The project is led by the Center for Sustainable Materials Management at SUNY ESF, with support from experienced partners including RRS NextCycle, Finger Lakes ReUse, the Susan Christopher Center for Community Planning, and the Institute for Sustainability Engagement at Syracuse University. 

Together, these partners bring expertise in circular economy business development, reuse operations, building deconstruction, community planning, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability education. 

This initiative is funded by an Environmental Benefit Project coordinated through the Department of Environmental Conservation.