Where are your locations?
We have two locations: the Ithaca ReUse Center (214 Elmira Road) and the ReUse MegaCenter (2255 N. Triphammer Road in Triphammer Marketplace).
When are you open/when are you closed? What about holidays?
Finger Lakes ReUse is closed on New Year’s Day (1/01), Independence Day (7/04), Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day (12/25). Other days may be delayed or closed early due to weather or other events – check our home page for the latest updates.
Both locations are open daily:for shopping 10 AM – 6 PM and accept donations Sun-Weds, Fri-Sat (closed for donations on Thursday).
How do you determine pricing?
We are a not-for-profit organization that relies in large part on merchandise sales to support all of our efforts, including over 80 quality jobs including benefits like health insurance and retirement plans. Sales cover about 70% of our annual expenses, and we rely on fundraising efforts (grants, fundraisers, and government contracts) to make up the rest. We do strive to keep prices affordable, including pricing used goods at least 50% below what you can find them new. Even so, with many different people pricing items, we don’t always get the price right, and we value your feedback. Send us a line in our contact us form if you are seeing a price that is out of line with our pricing strategy and we’ll thank you for letting us know.
Do you offer returns?
All sales at our ReUse Centers are final with the exception of electronics and paint, which can be returned for store credit within 15 days of purchase (accompanied with a receipt). Computers and laptops can be returned within 30 days of purchase.
What can I donate at the ReUse Centers?
Finger Lakes ReUse accepts quality used and surplus building materials, furniture, housewares, clothing, books, media, electronics, and much more. Your donations may be tax deductible and we will provide a donation receipt for your tax purposes upon request at the donation drop off location. All items must be complete, clean, and in good usable condition. Donations are accepted from 10 AM to 6 PM every day except Thursday; please note that our donations intake staff always have final say on whether or not we can accept items in their current condition. Learn more about our donations guidelines at https://ithacareuse.org/donategoods/
Where can I drop-off my items?
At Ithaca ReUse Center (214 Elmira Road), the donation drop-off is on the right side of the building. At Triphammer ReUse MegaCenter (2255 N. Triphammer Road), the donation drop-off is behind the Triphammer Marketplace and can be accessed on the path between Triphammer Marketplace and Homewood Suites (36 Cinema Place).
Do you pick-up items?
At the moment, we have limited capacity to offer pickup services and are currently only fielding requests for businesses, institutions and large-volume donations from residences as our capacity allows. This pickup service has a fee and starts at $50 within Tompkins County. You can fill out a pick-up request and someone will contact you: https://ithacareuse.org/pickup/. Alternatively, you may be able to work with a local moving service to pick up your items and bring them to us.
I’ve heard you provide materials for free to people in need. How do I participate in that program?
ReUse Materials Access Program (ReMAP) helps community members in need by providing them with a ReUse gift card. We aim to build local resilience through shared resources and increase local material access. We accept referral applications for gift cards from local human service agencies partnered with us. We review the request, and provide the household with enough credit to purchase needed materials. You can learn more about ReMAP at https://ithacareuse.org/remap/
What is ReSET?
ReSET is a hands-on job skills training program open to adults who need additional support achieving their job skills and career goals. Interested applicants choose from two tracks: ReSET Materials Handling & Service trains in skills related to retail, materials management, and customer service by immersing trainees in our l operations. ReSET Technology jumpstarts a career path in the growing and lucrative IT field. Participants learn testing, refurbishing, and troubleshooting computers and their components, among other tech basics.
How does ReUse deconstruction services work?
Finger Lakes ReUse can identify and survey suitable buildings for deconstruction, assist contractors in learning deconstruction techniques that offer the greatest salvaging, and sell materials through our ReUse Centers at affordable prices. By utilizing deconstruction, at least 90% of building materials can be prevented from going to landfills (Constructing a Circular Economy in New York State: Deconstruction and Building Material Reuse). Finger Lakes ReUse works to maximize the amount of materials that can be reused, support local workforce development in deconstruction, and expand community awareness of deconstruction. Learn more at https://ithacareuse.org/deconstruction/
How did this organization get started? How can I start one in my community?
Finger Lakes ReUse started as a public-private partnership with Tompkins County Recycling & Materials Management, and then incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit business. We believe there needs to be a more broad network of reuse facilities to comprehensively and effectively manage the volume of available quality, marketable used materials.
Through the ReUse Technical Assistance Program, Finger Lakes ReUse provides the knowledge and tools you need. Use our business planning template and get expert guidance to bring reuse to your community: reusetap.org.
Is Finger Lakes ReUse a nonprofit/charity?
Yes! As a registered 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization, our mission is to enhance community, economy, and environment through reuse, including creating quality jobs, reducing waste, and relieving local poverty. We also strive to protect our environment by re-directing materials from the waste stream into productive new uses. ReUse offers paid job training for individuals with barriers, direct relief to local families in need, and more.
How can I support ReUse?
Making a financial contribution of any amount directly supports our work in keeping usable items out of landfills while providing affordable goods to the community.
For those who prefer hands-on involvement, ReUse is always looking for volunteer help from our extended community! If you are passionate about reuse, zero-waste alternatives, deconstruction, organizing and sorting, merchandising, or cleaning, – we would love to meet you. If you are a student, a senior, someone who wants to be of service, someone who wants to meet people, or anywhere in between, we have something for you. You can sign up to be a volunteer at https://ithacareuse.org/volunteer.
Additionally, shopping at the ReUse Centers creates a direct impact, since every purchase—whether it’s furniture, household items, or building materials—provides 100% support for our mission.
Where does your profit go?
As a community-driven non-profit, our mission at ReUse is to provide affordable, reused goods while ensuring we cover operating costs such as providing quality wages and benefits to our permanent employees. We’re also committed to protecting the environment by diverting materials from the waste stream into new, productive uses.
Beyond this, ReUse offers paid job training for individuals facing barriers to employment, along with direct support to local families in need through the ReUse Access Materials Program. These efforts are at the core of everything we do.