Reduce, Reuse, Recycle with Help From Reuse-it Book

It’s an act that goes by many names – reusing, repurposing, freecycling.

Vernacular aside, there’s an undeniable green movement afoot, wherein the public donates their unwanted goods to individuals and organizations that are then able to put these items to use.

In conjunction with this ever-growing, popular trend, the Middlesex County Improvement Authority is announcing the recent release of its highly anticipated directory: “The New Reuse-It Book.”

“This is essentially the yellow pages of freecycling in Middlesex County,” said MCIA liaison and Middlesex County Freeholder Carol Barrett Bellante. “We were on the forefront of this movement more than a decade ago, when we published the first draft of this book. It’s been several years since we’ve released our last version, but after taking painstaking efforts to recruit new listings and verify the fine details, we have a draft that’s now available, free-of-charge, to all residents.”

The book is organized alphabetically and by broad categories, for instance: appliances, computers, office furniture, toys and the like. Readers will find organizations’ names listed under each of these category headings and an accompanying page number, where they can locate more in-depth information, like specific items accepted, addresses, phone numbers, hours of operation and more.  

“For whatever reason you’ve decided to reorganize a space or downsize on clutter – because a child moved out, its spring cleaning time or even if a loved one has passed away – this is an extremely helpful reference tool,” said MCIA Recycling Division Manager Ed Windas.  “You donate the items to the businesses or organization of your choosing and they will in turn, divert trash from local landfills, thereby cutting municipal expenses. As you can see, everybody wins in this equation.”

Hard copies of “The New Reuse-It Book” can be located at various community libraries, municipal offices, at the County’s East Brunswick Recycling Center or at the Authority’s Cranbury headquarters.

In the spirit of the book’s eco-friendly mission, the Middlesex County Improvement Authority has also made this most recent edition available online for anyone who would like electronic access to the most up-to-date information. 

If interested in receiving a printed copy or for possible inclusion in “The New Reuse-It Book,” contact MCIA staff member Maria Prato at (609) 409-5003 or by emailing mp@mciauth.com.