Reuse, the Heart of Waste Prevention

Welcome to the reuse website of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)! The purpose of this site is to educate and motivate people to approach material reuse as the first option in diverting unwanted materials from California landfills.

• CalRecycle offers a competitive grant program for local public agencies.
• Various reuse resources are available on this site as well as our Waste Prevention World and CalMAX websites.

There are many benefits when we reuse. Some of these benefits are:

• Reuse plays an important role in programs to divert waste from California landfills, as required by State law. Reuse is the second step in the waste management hierarchy of "reduce, reuse, recycle."
• Reusing materials saves money, energy, and natural resources.
• Reuse has vast potential for creating new markets for materials, new jobs, and opportunities for vocational training.