Reuse Assistance Grant Progress Report

Sonoma County Reuse Assistance Grant Project
(Part 4: September 1, 2003 to March 1, 2004)

Project Description

In partnership with Garbage Reincarnation, Inc., created an educational reuse showcase and related lecture/workshop series to complement the reuse building at the Central Landfill location. This project included: (a) organizing donated materials and volunteers to build a rustic facade for the reuse building, (b) organizing paid labor and volunteers to construct and staff a 20'x30' "Reuse Education Center" within the new reuse building, (c) using reused materials including re-milled lumber in all aspects of construction, (d) acquiring from local scrap art artists samples of creative projects using discarded materials, and (e) conducting lecture/workshops on employing used building materials in construction.

The steps required to accomplish their project are as follows:

Special note: Due to construction delays and related permit issues, the Reuse/Recycling Center at Central Landfill was not available for occupancy until December 2002. This affected the schedule of this grant as no construction or activity could occur at Central Landfill's Reuse Building until an occupancy permit had been issued.

Task 1: Order Flooring, Wainscoting, Table, and Chair for the Reuse Education Center. (March 2002)

Reimbursable Services:
The Reuse Education Center is a 20'x30' area constructed within the reuse warehouse at Central Landfill. One of the goals of the education center is to showcase the practical application of reclaimed lumber. Hence, the flooring, wainscoting, wainscoting trim, and table will be made from such material. Beyond Waste, a local company specializing in the deconstruction of buildings and reclaiming of building materials, has been contracted to provide remilling services for salvaged dimensional lumber. To add value to the salvaged materials, Beyond Waste also manufacturers and sells tables. There are no other companies in Sonoma County that provide such a service. The quantity or material ordered from Beyond Waste follows:

Flooring: 800 sq. ft. for a 20'x30' area (Remilled from douglas fir girders 1" thick x various lengths).
Wainscoting: 750 sq. ft. to cover three walls of the center.
Trim: 200 sq. ft.
Table: 2' wide x 6' long intended to be used by the Reuse Education Center attendant (Garbage Reincarnation staff).  

Materials were ordered with Beyond Waste on July 20, 2002. Material expenditures totaled $6,515 reimbursable through this grant. To coordinate the purchase of material, project coordinator Pavitra Crimmel charged $100 in staff time reimbursable through this grant.

Matching Services:
There are no matching funds attached to Task 1.

Task 1 is 100 percent complete.

Task 2: Organize Material Donations for Two 20'x20' Facades. (March to April 2002)

Reimbursable Services:
There are no reimbursable funds attached to Task 2.

Matching Services:
In order to demonstrate the practical application of reused lumber, the exterior facade of the reuse center will be clad with remilled dimensional lumber. This comprises two panels 20' wide x 20' high. As outlined in this grant, Beyond Waste has generously agreed to donate 800 square feet of remilled douglas fir to accomplish this goal. Material donations have an estimated value of $2,000. The material, mostly collected from deconstruction projects in the Bay Area, is currently being stored at the Beyond Waste warehouse.

Task 2 is 100 percent complete.

Task 3: Recruit a Local Artist to Make a Reuse Education Center Sign to be Applied to the Exterior of the Building. (September 2002 to January 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
The Reuse Education Center sign has now been made and attached to the exterior wall of the Reuse Education Center. The local artist worked with young people from the teen center using various materials gathered from Recycletown. Ms. Crimmel has invoiced for four hours time ($200) to recruit and direct activities of artist and the teen center.

Matching Services:
The artist has donated more than 20 hours of his time to this project.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 4: Schedule and Coordinate Volunteers for Facade Construction. (October 2002 to January 2003)

Reimbursable Services: 
All needed volunteers have been scheduled. Ms. Crimmel has invoiced this time for five hours ($250) to complete this task.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Matching Services:
There are no matching funds attached to Task 4.

Task 5: Construction of Facade. (October 2002 to January 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
The facade has been constructed. This project took place over the fall of 2003 using the creative energies of many volunteers. The following invoices have been submitted for time spent to complete this task: Ms. Crimmel (Coordinator): $1,000; Supervisor: $2,000; Assistant: $1,200.

Matching Services:
Volunteers have donated about 90 hours to this task.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 6: Construct Reuse Education Center. (October 2002 to January 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
The Reuse Education Center has been built. No additional invoices have been submitted in this report.

Matching Services:
Volunteers donated 80 hours.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Matching Services:
The volunteers have donated a total of 80 hours. This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 7: Design and Construct "Construction to Finished Products" Display as Part of the Reuse Education Center. (January to March 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
The "Deconstruction to Finished Products" display is intended to showcase the process of creating finished products from materials from deconstruction projects. This will be accomplished with photos and a description of the process. No additional invoices have been submitted in this report.

Matching Services:
Volunteers have donated 40 hours for this task for design and for assembling the finished piece.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 8: Design and Construct Junk Art Display as Part of the Reuse Education Center. (January to March 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
The junk art display is intended to showcase the work of local artists. A shelf system will be built to organize works of art. No new invoices have been submitted in this report.

Matching Services:
Volunteers donated 40 hours and donated artwork valued at over $1,000 for this task.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 9: Design and Construct Brochure Holder as Part of the Reuse Education Center. (January to March 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
The brochure holder is intended to hold Agency publications such as the Recycling Guide and business materials, fliers, as well as resources related to the lecture series. No new invoices have been submitted in this report.

Matching Services:
Volunteers donated 20 hours time for this task.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 10: Design and Construct Bottle Wall as Part of the Reuse Education Center. (January to March 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
The bottle wall defines the Reuse Education Center from the rest of the reuse building. As a bottle wall was included in the Public Works Administration Building, Garbage Reincarnation staff has discussed construction methodology with Public Works engineering staff. No new invoices have been submitted in this report.

Matching Services:
Almost 200 volunteer hours were donated to this task.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 11: Design and Construct Pillar Entrance to Reuse Education Center. (January to March 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
The pillar entrance is intended to be a junk art expression that creates the entrance to the Reuse Education Center within the reuse building. No new invoices have been submitted in this report.

Matching Services:
Artists from the Teen Center donated 40 hours to this task.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 12: Publicize the Reuse Education Center. (March/June 2002)

Reimbursable Services:
There are no reimbursable funds attached to Task 12.

Matching Services:
Garbage Reincarnation was unable to publish a newsletter during this time period due to lack of funds. However, the local scrap metal recycler has offered to pay for the next issue, to be published at the beginning of April 2004, highlighting the success of the lecture series. The value of this donation is $1,200.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 13: Staff Education Center. (July 2002 to ongoing)

Reimbursable Services:
There are no reimbursable funds attached to Task 13.

Matching Services:
Matching services are provided by Garbage Reincarnation staff orienting the public to the Reuse Education Center.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 14(a): Hold Annual Scrapture Contest and Education Reuse Center Kick-Off. (June 2002)

Reimbursable Services:
There are no reimbursable funds attached to Task 14(a).

Matching Services:
Garbage Reincarnation's annual "junk art" contest has now been held twice since the Reuse Assistance Grant award. Over 2,000 people attended the 2002 event. Historically, art for the event is solicited from Professional, Amateur, Children, and Family categories. In 2002, in order to recruit chairs to be used for the Reuse Education Center, a new "chair" category was added. The outcome was that two artists generously donated art chair creations. Since then, two other artists have donated chairs for the Education Center.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 14(b): Hold Grand Opening for Reuse Education Center. (June 2002 to March 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
There are no reimbursable funds attached to Task 14(b).

Matching Services:
Matching services were provided by Garbage Reincarnation staff to provide refreshments and coordinate staff for the Reuse Education Center's opening event. This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 15: Convene Volunteer Committee to Develop Lecture/Workshop Series. (February to May 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
The committee of volunteers was selected. Meetings began in September 2003, and ran through December 2003. Ms. Crimmel has submitted an invoice for $900 for coordinating this project.

Matching Services:
There are no matching funds attached to Task 15.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 16: Plan Format, Invite Presenters. (March to May 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
The committee developed a format which would cover the needed topics. Two presenters per session were invited. Ms. Crimmel has submitted an invoice for $750 for coordinating this task. Speakers have submitted the following invoices for speaking and travel costs ($420).

Matching Services:
There are no matching funds attached to Task 16.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 17: Create Lecture Series Schedule. (March to May 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
The lecture series schedule was created during December 2003. The lecture series started on the first Wednesday of January after the holiday season. It was decided to hold the series every other Wednesday during the lunch hour from January through March 2004. As this is the dead of winter and there is decreased construction activity, it was felt this would give the most opportunity to the greatest number of attendees. Ms. Crimmel has invoiced $400 for this project.

Matching Services:
There are no matching funds attached to Task 17.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 18: Publicize Lecture/Workshop Series. (March to May 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
The following media outlets were given the lecture information:

Print:
Press Democrat (Santa Rosa/Sonoma County/North Coast, California) (The Press Democrat did an article.)
Argus Courier (Petaluma)
North Bay Bohemian (Santa Rosa/Sonoma County/North Bay, California)
Petaluma Post (Petaluma)
Sonomax winter 2004, Issue 28

Radio:
KRCB Radio (Rohnert Park/Sonoma County)
(They did a five minute interview on "Spotlight Sonoma County.")

Electronic Media:
Various e-mail lists, Internet forums, and Internet message boards.
(Garbage Reincarnation was told that several people who saw their e-mail about the lecture series posted it to other e-mail lists.)

Ms. Crimmel has invoiced $400 for coordinating this project.

Matching Services:
There are no matching funds attached to Task 18.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 19: Conduct Lecture/Workshop Series. (October 2002 to May 2003)

Reimbursable Services:
Five lectures were held during January 2004 through March 2004. Attendance was high and the content was well received. Ms. Crimmel has submitted an invoice for $1,050 for moderating the series.

Matching Services:
There are no matching funds attached to Task 19.

This task is 100 percent complete. 

Task 20: Collect Evaluation Data. (June 2002 to March 2004)

Reimbursable Services:
The evaluation process was as follows:

1. Daily visitor count.
   1. The initial visitor count at the opening of the Education Center was 150 vehicles.
   2. Visitor count after one month was 170 vehicles.
   3. Visitor count after eight months was 150 (this was during winter).
2. Used building materials volumes.
   1. Initial sales ($80 per day).
   2. Sales right before the end of grant cycle ($110 per day).
3. Evaluation from participants in the lecture series.
   1. An average of 20 participants have filled in the evaluation form.
4. Visitors to the Reuse Education Center.
   1. Over 250 guests have signed the guest book.
5. All information has been posted to the agency's Web site.

Ms. Crimmel has submitted an invoice for $200 for work on this project.

Matching Services:
There are no matching funds attached to Task 20.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 21: Compile Final Report for CIWMB. (March 2004)

Reimbursable Services:
Ms. Crimmel has compiled this final report. In addition to the main report, the following are available:

1. Lecture Series Flyer
2. Copy of article by Press Democrat
3. Copy of press release
4. Photographs of Education Center and Lecture Series
5. Copy of evaluation form and sample
6. Copy of sample page of guest book
7. Copy of Sonomax catalog
8. Copy of recyclenow.org Web site
9. Copy of 2004 Recycling Guide

Ms. Crimmel has submitted an invoice for $500 for compiling this report.

Matching Services:
There are no matching funds attached to Task 21.

This task is 100 percent complete.

Task 22: Submit Final Report to CIWMB. (March 2004)

Reimbursable Services:
The final report has now been submitted to the CIWMB. Ms. Crimmel has submitted an invoice for $50 for work on this task.

Matching Services:
There are no matching funds attached to Task 22.

This task is 100 percent complete.

*Permission was obtained from grant recipient to publish project profile.

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Last updated: June 25, 2008