About The RE Store

Helping homeowners, builders, and businesses since 1993

What does The RE Store do?
Why be a non-profit?
How does The RE Store do everything they do?
Field Services
Do it yourself resources galore
The RE Store gives back
Green jobs training
Don't just take our word for it

What does The RE Store do?

The RE Store has two environmentally-responsible retail stores that sell affordable building materials

• Offering quality alternatives to new products
• Stocking inexpensive, unique items
  Examples include cabinets, doors, windows, light fixtures, tubs, sinks, flooring, moulding, hardware, etc...

Our Field Services recover wasted materials for reuse and recycling from Washington State and beyond

• Diverting over 4 million pounds of construction & demolition waste
• Providing quality services and savings for builders, home owners and businesses

We promote a green, sustainable culture

• Encouraging value to be created from waste
• Exposing a wide variety of people to sustainable lifestyle options

Customers save over $1.6 million annually through RE Store purchases

• Our sales totaling over 1.6 million dollars each year are based on items priced at 50% or less than the price of similar new items
• Saving money for our donors on their disposal fees while contributors receive a tax-deductible receipt or a in-store trade credit

Building community by building skills

• Developing individual skills for our 25+ staff on an ongoing basis
• Training people to enter the work force in new ways with our green jobs training program
• Connecting with our communities through workshops, events and our Recycled Art Program. Discover the many ways you can get involved with The RE Store.

The RE Store is a leader in the used building materials industry, a valued member of the communities we serve, and a winner of local, state, and national awards.

Why is the RE Store a non-profit building supply and services company?

The RE Store was founded in 1993 by the non-profit organization RE Sources for Sustainable Communities to address the growing problem of wasteful disposal of useable building materials, most of which were buried in the local landfill. The organization was able to focus on the mission of saving waste by forming under the non-profit, supporting the public's growing interest in green building and reuse.

The RE Store now provides a practical alternative to dumping building materials. In 2010, our efforts saved a total of 4,503,000 pounds or 2,251.5 tons of building supplies - the equivalent weight of 5 Boeing 747s or 59 semi-trailers.

By comparison, 200,000 buildings are demolished each year in the United States. The demolition of a modest 2,000 square foot house generates up to 127 tons of trash. The RE Store can reuse up to 50% of that material and recycle another 49%, leaving a mere 1% to end up in a landfill or incinerator. Learn more on our non-profit page.

How does The RE Store do it all?

Recipe for The RE Store's success:

1. Mix together the best aspects of a big-box home improvement warehouse
2. Add a funky antique store and vintage decor thrift store, complete with fresh and dusty classic items
3. Toss in flea market bargains and a daily changing inventory
4. Stir vigorously with a mobile fleet of fast and friendly salvage professionals
5. Season with knowledgeable staff, interesting displays, events, art and curious cats
6. Sweeten with hundreds of partnerships between builders, demolition contractors, handymen, home owners and businesses
7. Heat with the staff's passion for reuse and cool old stuff
8. Spice with do-it-yourself workshops, events and recycled art happenings
9. Age since 1993
10. Serves over 100,000 per year

Field Services

Salvage services offer a wide variety of flexible and thrifty services. Our crews are fully licensed and bonded. The fleet of trucks visits job sites, businesses, homes, and storage facilities throughout western Washington.

• Pickups - we haul away usable stuff - more info
• Salvage - we strip out and remove doors, windows, cabinets, fixtures, flooring, etc. - more info
• Green Demolition "Deconstruction" Services with an emphasis on salvage and reuse - more info
• Previews and bids are free - more info

Do it yourself resources, workshops, events and Recycled Art Program

Workshops, events, downloadables, gift ideas and recycled art happenings inspire you to do it yourself, connect with others and share your creativity. Get the full story on all of our do it yourself resources to help you reuse, save money and be creative. Find out other ways to get involved with The RE Store.

Subscribe to our free monthly email newsletter to receive the latest workshops, recycled events and more.

The RE Store gives back

The RE Store thrives on a robust community of customers, donors and volunteers. We complete the cycle of giving by donating gift certificates and salvaged materials to organizations working toward more sustainable and just communities. View our list of orgs and how to submit your own request for sponsorship or donations  from The RE Store.

Green jobs training

We work with a variety of job skill-building and retraining programs in Western Washington including:

• YMCA
• Opportunity Council
• Work Source

Don't just take our word for it

Hear what others have to say about us with testimonials from homeowners and contractors, or read honest and funky reviews on Yelp for our Seattle store or for our Bellingham store.

Read more about The RE Store in local press and national publications.

• 2011 Articles
• 2010 Articles
• 2009 Articles
• 2008 Articles
• 1999-2007 Articles

Find us online

Sign up for our free monthly email newsletter and stay tuned in to the latest great materials, workshops, green building tips, and community events.

Find us on Facebook or Twitter for loads of free do-it-yourself inspiration

Watch short videos about our many projects on Youtube

Check out beautiful photos on Flickr

Yelp.com - online reviews for our Seattle and Bellingham stores

Google Places - online compiled reviews and maps for our Seattle and Bellingham stores

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“The decisions Americans make about sustainable development are not technical decisions about peripheral matters, and they are not simply decisions about the environment. They are decisions about who we are, what we value, what kind of world we want to live in, and how we want to be remembered.”

~ John Dernbach - sustainable development author and environmental law professor