The nonprofit WasteCap Resource Solutions provides waste reduction and recycling assistance during construction and demolition projects. In the past year, WasteCap has had a role in diverting more than 137 million pounds of material from landfills; since its founding, the organization has recycled 88% of all materials on its projects and diverted 1.236 billion pounds. “Construction and demolition materials make up around 30-40% of all materials going to landfills,” says WasteCap Executive Director Joe Liebau Jr. “There are very few programs addressing this and even less acknowledgment of this huge issue. Today, 90% of these materials can be easily diverted.”
To increase awareness, the nonprofit offers construction and demolition waste management training and deconstruction training. It also has a Residential Preference Program (RPP), in which WasteCap hires unemployed or underemployed workers so they can gain job skills. “Rather than seeing foreclosed homes be simply demolished, the goal is to turn this unfortunate situation into a training opportunity for people from these neighborhoods,” says Liebau Jr. In 2015, WasteCap has provided 22 RPP trainees paid work opportunities, totaling more than 1,000 worker hours.
The organization is led by an all-volunteer board of directors and is looking for more volunteer input.
“As we move forward, we would love to engage volunteers more fully. If a person wants to volunteer, we will find them something to help with,” says Liebau Jr.
WasteCap will be opening its architectural salvage materials warehouse (2123 W. Michigan St.) to the public beginning Wednesday, July 15, and will feature an opening week sale. Hours are Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. “WasteCap also invites the public to its free annual fundraising event, Emerald Evening, which will take place Thursday, Sept. 17 at The Best Place and feature live reuse performance art, sustainable cuisine, unique silent auction packages, specialty drinks and free beer.”
Monetary and in-kind donations of equipment and tools big or small are always welcome. Those interested in volunteering, donating or learning more about the RPP program should contact Alex Ogden at 414-961-1100 or aogden@wastecap.org. For more information, visit wastecap.org.
