Stories from our members: Why they joined Reuse Minnesota

Many people join Reuse Minnesota looking for new ideas, helpful connections, and practical ways to reduce waste in their work. Some are starting new businesses, while others are improving long-standing programs. They all share the same goal: finding better ways to keep usable materials out of the landfill.

What they find is more than just information. They find a group of people who care about the same issues, are willing to share ideas, and work together to support reuse in real ways.

Below are a few stories from members about why they joined, and how being part of this network has helped their work grow.

Joe, American Dumpster Rental and Recycling

After two decades in the construction industry, Joe saw a problem he couldn’t ignore. Every job site revealed just how much usable material was being tossed aside. Determined to make a difference, he founded American Dumpster Rental and Recycling four years ago with a mission: to reduce waste and create a more thoughtful, sustainable system for materials that too often end up in the landfill.

For Joe, membership in Reuse Minnesota has been a key component of that journey. Each conversation, each shared idea, adds a fresh perspective on how to rethink waste.

“I really think of things as ingredients,” Joe explains. “There’s a lot of different reasons why people reuse. A lot of times people throw things away just out of convenience, not because they’re broken. Being able to share ideas and resources helps us keep those items out of the landfill and put them back into use.”

Joe also values the smaller, everyday exchanges that happen through Reuse Minnesota. A single comment at a meeting or an insight shared in passing might spark a new project or open the door to collaboration.

“Those little things, if you’re alert to them, you can pick up a lot. You really become a better reuser yourself through the relationships and conversations you have with members.”

Roxanne, Nine Lives Thrift

Nine Lives Thrift, a nonprofit thrift store in St. Paul, was founded with a simple mission: to make secondhand clothing accessible for all. Nine Lives Thrift offers affordable prices, hosts free shopping nights, and partners with larger nonprofits to provide shopping vouchers that give clients the dignity of choice.

From the very beginning, networking with members from Reuse Minnesota played an important role in shaping Nine Lives’ journey. Connecting with other reuse advocates helped refine the store’s vision and built confidence in sharing its mission with others.

“It was great to be able to, over a lunch period, meet a bunch of different like-minded folks, other small business owners, folks passionate about reuse, and also practice our elevator pitch,” said Co-Founder Roxanne Sanchez.

Beyond networking, Nine Lives Thrift formed an impactful partnership with Cat Polivoda, a Minneapolis-based boutique owner and body positivity advocate. In one instance, when a client at Nine Lives could not find clothing in their size, Cat welcomed the team into her store and even contributed pieces from her own closet to ensure the client’s needs were met.

This kind of collaboration reflects the true value of Reuse Minnesota membership: beyond education and resources, it is about building a community of businesses and individuals committed to helping one another succeed.

Jackson, Dakota Valley Recycling

Dakota Valley Recycling—the shared recycling department for the cities of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, and Lakeville—embraces reuse and waste reduction methods inspired by fellow Reuse Minnesota members.

Inspired by Anoka County, Dakota Valley Recycling hosted a household goods swap last year, where the community brought in 8,000 pounds of furniture to be reused.

“It was just great to see all this material come in and be reused in the community in just a couple of hours,” said a department environmental specialist, Jackson Becker.

By connecting with Reuse Minnesota’s diverse membership, the department continues to bring new ideas into the communities it serves.

“It has been great to get to know the other members, both on the government side and the private business members,” said Jackson. “We love attending the tours and meetings when possible, and we get lots of great ideas from both.”

Written by Ava Thompson and Reuse Minnesota | Ava is passionate about the planet and enjoys telling stories. Connect with her on LinkedIn.