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Our mission is to strengthen the economy, community, and environment through reuse and sustainable materials management.
Get to Know Us
Cortland ReUse is a community run nonprofit organization. We believe this structure facilitates diverse collaboration and invites community trust with familiar controls like transparent finances and a local board.
We aspire to do more than sell useful things, create jobs, and extend the life of the landfill. Reuse is a great opportunity for creativity and education programs. We encourage responsibility, respect for community and environment and promote civic pride and participation.
How we help
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Cortland ReUse has created jobs, provided affordable goods to the community, and has extended the life of the county landfill which has helped the environment and has saved local tax dollars.
Communities similar to Cortland across the country have leveraged reuse strategies and realized the benefits. As of 2021, Finger Lakes ReUse in Tompkins County has created 72 jobs at “Living Wage” with benefits, while offering unbeatable values at two thriving retail stores in Ithaca.
So far, Cortland ReUse is off to a great start. We have created 4 jobs with a living wage and benefits and have over 100 volunteers -including those who have varied barriers to employment, Transition house volunteers from the Catholic Charities, Cortland Works Youth, Special Needs volunteers from the J.M. Murray Center as well as bighearted local folks who just want to pitch in and help.
Dollars spent at local retailers have a “multiplier effect.” According to South Dakota Rural Enterprise, Inc., spending $1 locally generates $5 to $14 in the immediate area.
Cortland ReUse has significant growth potential in Cortland County. According to the most recent data we have, our waste diversion rate – how good we are at diverting waste from landfill – is under 10%. Our neighbors in Onondaga and Tompkins Counties both have achieved rates over 50%, showing that further diversion is possible.
Reuse continues to contribute to Cortland’s transition from a manufacturing-based economy to a revitalized community. At their April 2019 session, the legislature adopted a resolution to make Cortland County an Opportunity Community, taking proactive steps to break the area’s cycle of poverty. Reuse complements current projects like the Main Street revitalization, the Clinton Avenue corridor (Gateway Project), and other efforts designed to stimulate economic growth. And, reuse is happening now, with lower capital investment.
Besides creating jobs and making available affordable goods, Reuse offers activities with which community members can participate, such as a Second Hand Stories writing club, live music, art classes, and ways to ReUse instead of discard. We feature local artists upcycle projects, and sell community members Books, CDs, reusable paper towels, and more.