Reutilization
Reutilization is one step better than recycling. When one reuses something, instead of buying something new, the resources of the planet are saved for the future. Building materials are one of the largest contributors to the land fills. It has been a challenge, or some might say an obsession, of the humans of the Olalla rain forest to reutilize. All of the structures of the forest have utilized reutilization resources. It would be exhaustive to list them all, but the sauna can serve as an example.
The building shell is made from cedar tounge and groove "lincoln log"
4 x 6's made by a local company which sells houses of the same materials. The shell was bought at a school surplus auction in a pile labeled "play house". It had never been assembled having been bought by the school for a purpose never realized; price, 95 dollars. The roof is made from surplus tile bought at an auction as leftovers from a roofing contractor; price 40 dollars. The windows came from a military surplus auction and were unused windows for a military ship; thermalpane with stainless frames; price.. 10 dollars. The door was donated from a house being torn down in the neighborhood. The wood stove was also bought at auction for 10 dollars. The base on which the wood stove sits is made from granite left over from the Seattle metro tunnel. The railing on the porch came from a country auction... 10 dollars. The shower in the sauna is out of a high school gym and serves three people; stainless steel bought from school auction for 5 dollars.
Swap meets are another good source for reutilization resources.
oh yes , the stove pipe and cap were also auction resources. The savings in money are
allways fun, and necessary, but the satisfaction gained from reusing discarded items is the greatest payoff. Having used search engines and from surfing the web I have found very little information or others involved in reutilization. If anyone is aware of newsgroups or other pages dealing with reutilization it would seem a natural to share information on sources, uses, and ideas. It seems grass roots organization will have to do since not many businesses will want to support an idea which might cause a drop in sales. Reutilization is good for the planet , but not so good for the gross national product.
9:19 PM on 3/13/97