Re-Sets Revisits CalMAX

by Kevin Taylor, CalMAX Coordinator

Subsequent to their designation as the first "CalMAX Match of the Catalog" (May/June 1992 catalog) and later "Match of the Year," David Isaac and Re-Sets drifted away from the CalMAX program for a couple of years after changing locations. We're happy to say the company has "come back to CalMAX" and is using the program to find homes for many of the materials they collect.

Re-Sets is an environmentally conscious business that deconstructs and recycles materials from movie and studio sets, as well as other construction projects. This business has been in David's family for over 40 years. As you can imagine, the company encounters all kinds of unusual materials when dealing with studios. In fact, materials donated from the original Match of the Catalog included a set from the horror movie Freddie Krueger's Last Nightmare.

Re-Sets currently has nine "available" listings in CalMAX, ranging from computer and telephone equipment, to office furniture, pallets, buckets, and PVC tubing. Computer equipment recently listed included a large quantity of monitors and pre-Pentium 386 and 486 computers. After reading about Re-Set's listings, one individual made 10 exchanges, totaling almost a half-ton of equipment. Re-Sets valued the material at over $1,200.

The company has made successful exchanges as well. Over 60 exchanges—totaling approximately 100 tons and worth over $6,000—of lumber, tubing and pipe, buckets, and office furniture was recently made. Re-Sets also concluded two exchanges involving outdated telephone systems for a total of 150 pounds and $300.

Re-Sets recently signed a contract with Fox Studios to recycle materials from the studio's operations. David estimates that 90 percent of the materials from the studio are reused or recycled; including over 100,000 pounds of paper per month.

There's no doubt that we need more companies like Re-Sets to help California reach its 50 percent waste reduction goal. We are most happy to see that CalMAX can play a role in assisting in Re-Sets labor of love, and where doing the right thing can turn a profit as well. If you would like to contact Re-Sets, you can reach them by calling: (818) 504-9893 or via e-mail at goresets@aol.com.

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Last updated: August 01, 2008