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Building Materials Exchange

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April 4, 2005

I know that I've talked about the recycling cycle and how closing the loop means buying recycled material. Well, another part of that cycle is reuse, instead of taking the energy to make a new product, why not use a product until it has no value. I've discovered a great resource that has not been tapped into in this area yet.

The company is called Maine Housing and Building Materials Exchange or BME. . BME is a not-for-profit 501C-3 company, and anything that you donate to them can be written off on your taxes, this includes businesses that donate building materials. BME will strip your home of materials that can still be used and then sell them to low-income families. And actually, now BME has the ability to completely demo a home. Granted the process takes longer than just hiring a dozer to come and do the job, but the results are more building material for people who need it. BME has a warehouse in Gray and another in Sanford.

Some of BME's services include receiving new products from manufacturers of doors and windows that were just not the right size for the project they were intended for. For a fee of $10 to cover the cost of fuel, BME will come and get your items that can still be reused. But they will try and get as much information as possible out of you before they come and get your items. BME recently acquired cast iron bathtubs and some sinks from a hotel that was doing some remodeling.

Other materials that are available from BME are: lighting fixtures, doors, both new and used, windows, sinks, toilets, bathtubs, carpet remnants, used appliances, moldings, storm doors and windows, by folding doors, paint and stains, nails and nail gun rolls and floor tile. There are some items that are reserved for members. In order to become a member you must be a low-income family and meet an income requirement. If you make more than the income requirement you are charged about 40% more than the member price, but these prices are still much lower than market value of the goods being sold. Last year BME donated about $40,000 of their costs to members who needed assistance; that's the equivalent of $100,000 market value for the products provided.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about BME, or you can contact them directly. BME is on the web at www.mainebme.org. You can also call BME at 490-0463 in Sanford, or 657-2957 in Gray, or by email at mhbme45@yahoo.com. I hope that people in this area are able to utilize the services that BME provides and you help close the loop by reusing products. I can be reached through email at swojcoski@sacomaine.org. Keep recycling!