By Sharon Driscoll
(Town of Lincoln, NY – July 2014) We all recycle, but how many of us think about or pursue the art of reuse? Repurposing items that are no longer needed for their intended use or using cast-off items that are slightly broken?
July 2014 marks the second year that the Madison County Reuse Store, located at the main landfill site on Buyea Road in Lincoln, has been in business. Since that time, the Reuse Store has acquired a loyal following. Some folks are looking for bargains; others like the adventure associated with a store of this ilk, as it is much the same as a treasure hunt where you never know just what you might find.
College students frequent the Reuse Store because they like the reasonable prices and the variety of merchandise. There are dishes, glasses and silverware, pots and pans, items for your desk, lamps, jewelry and framed art work. The avid gardener can find statues, garden utensils, bird feeders and birdbaths. Some items may be missing a piece or two, but still work perfectly well.
I recently purchased an aluminum birdbath that someone had tossed in the scrap metal bin. It was rescued and on sale in the Reuse Store. When I was paying for the item one of the customers asked ‘Why would you want that? It is broken.’
There is only a small piece broken off the bottom and it still stands up perfectly level. The little bird that once stood inside the bowl was broken off, too. But, guess what? I took it home cleaned it up, created a level space in my flower garden and filled the birdbath with water. About 10 minutes after completing these tasks, a robin landed on the edge of the broken birdbath. The robin did not care that the little ornament was missing. He or she jumped in and started splashing, first one wing and then the other. Water flew everywhere. Out of the water and flapping both wings, the robin had second thoughts and jumped back in for a second rinse.
Robins, red-winged blackbirds and a big crow are some of the many visitors to this refurbished birdbath, which is one example of reusing something for its original purpose, even though it is not as grand as it once was. The birds think it’s just fine, and the $3 price was just right.
If you are one of the many who have not yet visited the Madison County Reuse Store it is time to take a ride over to Lincoln, just three miles south of the traffic light on Route 5 in Wampsville – South Court Street to Buyea Road and up the hill to the Reuse Store. There are numerous bargains waiting there just for you. Bikes, toys, furniture, wooden interior doors, antique tools, delicate china from England, lawn furniture and more.
The Rescue Mission and the Madison County Department of Solid Waste formed a public-private partnership two years ago. The Rescue Mission hired Robin Miner of Erieville to manage the store and the donation trailer.
The Reuse Store and the donation trailer are open from 7:10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For more information, call the recycling hot line at 800.721.2208.
Sharon Driscoll is recycling coordinator for Madison County.