The fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. It not only marks the beginning of a great human experiment in liberty and individual freedom, it celebrates an evolution of political thought spanning some 2,500 years—Aristotle, Cicero, Cato, the Magna Carta, John Locke, Edmond Burke and many others—which has delivered to Americans the most envied way of life in the world.

We in the building-materials reuse business are participating in a different kind of evolution—the evolution of practices that have become vitally important to our ability to sustain that way of life. Humans started on this quest by reusing stones and timbers, then lumber, doors and windows, then lighting and plumbing fixtures. As soon as a new product is developed, we find creative ways to reuse it. Thousands of people purchase doors, windows, appliances, lighting and so forth, and thousands more give them extended life.

We began the Reuse Contest for one reason: to show people how easily, inexpensively and attractively they can reuse salvaged materials. Over the years the contest has seen classy kitchen installations, sheds and cabins, furniture, room additions, repurposed shipping containers, chicken coops, decks and lots more.

In each of our contests over the past four years, diverse materials have been adapted to more and more varied uses. This year's contest -- our first national effort -- already includes interesting art projects and various kinds of structures. Many of our partner stores have received over a dozen entries to date, with more to come. The response at other stores is lagging a bit, possibly due to extreme weather, which has undoubtedly inhibited the purchase of materials, not to mention the physical work involved in actually building something. Of course, many potential entrants are still working on their projects -- we've barely reached the height of the home-improvement season.

Even if you are miles away from one of our partner stores, you can still email your entry to TRP. You do not have to buy the used materials from a TRP or partner store -- your project just needs to created with mostly used materials. Below is a list of the stores participating in this year's contest. If the store where you shop is not a participant, please let us know and we will invite them aboard next year. This, like our country's founding, is an evolutionary process.

First-place winners at the local store level will automatically be entered in the national contest with a chance to win additional prizes -- from $250 to $1,000 in gift certificates redeemable at local reuse stores.

So get busy! We're eager to see what you can do.

Special Events Reminders
August 20-22: Community Action National Convention, New York. TRP will have a booth.

November 13: TRP is co-sponsoring, with WasteCap, a day long course on Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling in San Francisco. Participants will leave as WasteCap Accredited Professionals with the skills necessary to develop, manager, monitor, document and promote successful recycling programs. This course is also eligible for 7.5 CEU's through USGBC for LEED Green Associates and APs. More information to be announced.

November 14-16: San Francisco Green Build Show. TRP will have a booth. Complimentary tickets to this event will be available from TRP on a first come first served basis.