A couple of weeks ago one of our Northern California TRP-certified deconstruction contractors handed us a real test of our logistical capabilities: a contract to partially deconstruct two separate apartment complexes, one in Sunnyvale and the other a few miles away in Santa Clara. Each complex contains approximately 500 units, and the contractor's job is to remove all interior doors, kitchen cabinets and appliances, bathroom vanities, and some light fixtures, including fan lights.

The kitchens are typical apartment size, consisting of three base cabinets, three wall cabinets, floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinet, sink, countertops, stove, refrigerator and dishwasher. Some units also have washers and dryers.

TRP has known since its inception that salvaging building materials is only half the challenge in this business, and frequently not the most formidable half. The most difficult task can be finding a satisfactory way to dispose of the materials — to get them into the hands of people who can use them. This conundrum includes handling at the point of salvage, shipping to markets, interim storage or warehousing, consolidation, breaking bulk, trans-loading, and final delivery to the customer.

Our projected solution is to open a network of reuse facilities throughout the U.S. If we can easily ship materials from one location to another as supply and demand dictate, we can push the envelope regarding the size and scope of the projects we undertake. Only in this way will we become more effective at what we do and achieve our mission on a grand scale. The long-term goal isto have 20 to 25 regions in major metropolitan areas of the country. If we had these now, this project would be a slam dunk. But we don't.

So, how do we plan to manage the challenge at hand? With trailers — relays of them. At each site, over a period of about five weeks, the contractor will fill a 48-foot trailer with all the materials from approximately 20 to 25 units. TRP will take delivery of two semi-trailers every five weeks, at the same time returning two empty trailers to the sites. TRP is arranging for the rental of the trailers and the contractor is reimbursing us for the local drayage.

We estimate that our Oakland store can sell two of these kitchens per week. (They will have to compete for customer dollars with the kitchens and other materials we receive on a day-to-day basis.) Our Los Angeles outlet might be able to duplicate this volume, and our Colorado location can probably sell one per week. Consequently, at the end of one year, these two projects will add 150 to 250 unsold kitchens (and other items) to our inventory, and by the conclusion of the projects the number will be 300 to 500.

Assuming our warehouse sales estimates are correct, we will require space to store 10 to 15 trailers until the last of the materials have been moved to the floor of the warehouse.

TRP will be contacting nonprofit organizations throughout the Bay Area to offer these materials free of charge, as donations. However, we will be asking interested organizations to accept a minimum of one complete trailer load and to pay the transportation expenses to their location.

Can you help us find homes for these materials? If you have any solid suggestions, please phone Joe Feller, Operations Manager, The ReUse People of America: 510.383.1983 or 888.588.9490.

The national conference of the USGBC is next month! See you in Chicago, November 7 to 9.

As outlined in the feature article, the Oakland warehouse will soon be overstocked with very nice kitchens from two large projects – cabinets, appliances, the whole works.

At the Oakland warehouse this month we are featuring – you guessed it – kitchen cabinets. Receive 50% off on any complete kitchen (without appliances) until November 15. Normally a complete kitchen sells for $280 – we are offering them at $140.

At the Boulder warehouse, we are featuring lumber and concrete roofing tiles. Receive 50% off on lumber purchases and 75% off on tile roofing until November 15.

TRP is accepting donations of cars, trucks, SUV's, RV's, and motorcycles. Donating a vehicle is a simple process. You just pick up the phone and call. We do the rest. So if you'd like to get rid of an unwanted vehicle, phone now for a pickup. 800-574-0888. Or you can donate your vehicle online at www.vehiclesforcharity.com. Unfortunately, vehicle donations can only be made from the Bay Area counties plus Santa Cruz.

Go to our website www.thereusepeople.org, click on the tab "Opportunities" and look under the heading "Employment Opportunities"

• All materials from an 8,000 sq-ft complete remodel in Blackhawk, including dual-pane windows, bath and kitchen cabinets and appliances
• Lumber, doors and windows from a 4,000 sq-ft custom home in Monte Sereno
• All materials from the complete deconstruction of a 4,000 sq-ft pre-WWII home in Los Altos, including lots and lots of old growth lumber
• All materials from a 1,700 sq-ft custom ranch home in Menlo Park, including cabinets, doors, windows and hardwood flooring
• 1x6 and 1x8 redwood shiplap siding from three 100-year-old houses in Emeryville

• All materials from a 2,945 sq-ft, 2-story guest house in Pacific Palisades, including hardwood floors, mission clay roof tiles and great French doors
• All materials from a 2,447 sq-ft custom 1948 home in Pacific Palisades, including hardwood flooring, raised panel doors, double-hung wood windows and French doors
• All materials from a 4,100 sq-ft contemporary two-level home in Manhattan Beach, including T&G paneling, hardwood floors and raised panel doors with hardware
• All materials from a 2,454 sq-ft, 2-story home in West L.A., including three premium chandeliers, ceiling fans, hardwood flooring, and super wood kitchen cabinets.
• All materials from a 4,500 sq-ft Rancho Santa Fe home
• All materials from a 5,000 sq-ft Rancho Santa Fe home, including chain-link fencing, office furniture, plantation shutters, jet bathtub, granite-top vanities, chrome and glass cabinets and a 10x12 wool tapestry
• All materials from a 7,800 sq-ft multiple building project in the Kensington area of San Diego, including considerable hardwood flooring

• All materials from a 6,000 sq-ft custom 2-story tudor home in Glencoe, including outstanding doors, dual paned windows and super cabinets
• Materials from a 2-story flat built over 100 years ago in Bridgeport, including two kitchens, doors, windows, electrical and plumbing fixtures

Location and Contact Information

TRP ReUse Bazaar
9235 San Leandro Street
Oakland, CA 94603
(510) 383-1983; toll-free 888-588-9490
Hours: Mon through Fri 10:00 to 6:00; Sat and Sun 10:00 to 4:00

Boulder Warehouse
10500 Isabelle Road
Lafayette, CO 80026
(303) 666-8094
Hours: Thursday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Please visit our partnering warehouses in Los Angeles and Seattle:

Habitat Home Improvement Store
17700 S. Figueroa (corner of 182nd)
Gardena/Carson CA 90248
(310)-323-5665
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6: 00p.m.

Earthwise Building Salvage of Seattle
3447 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98134
(206) 624-4510
Hours: Open seven days, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.