Long Island Reuse Hub Accelerator

Designing Community-Centered Reuse Hubs and Entrepreneur Pathways 

The Long Island Reuse Hub Accelerator is a 12-month planning and development initiative led by the Center for Sustainable Materials Management at SUNY ESF. The project will explore how Long Island can reduce waste, strengthen local reuse and repair systems, support circular economy businesses, and create new community-based job pathways. 

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. 

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

Project Goals

The Long Island Reuse Hub Accelerator 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  

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. 

What the Project Will Produce

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

  • A comprehensive feasibility report  

  • A reuse landscape and partner database  

  • Hub siting and facility recommendations  

  • A community engagement summary  

  • A pipeline of Long Island-based reuse innovators and entrepreneurs  

Building a Circular Economy on Long Island 

The Long Island Reuse Hub Accelerator 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. 

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. 

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Funding Language?  

This project if funded by xxxx under xxxxx