Happy Earth Day: How ReStore Supports Sustainability

by Lydia Avery

Learn more about how we support sustainability year-round, and how you can too. 

Diverting Waste from Landfills

Currently, Illinois sits in the top 5 of most trash per capita in the United States, with each person producing an average of 1,700 pounds of waste a year. One major source of waste produced is housing and construction materials; by reusing or recycling these products, we can make a huge difference.

In 2025, DuPage and Chicago South Suburb ReStore’s diverted 885 TONS or 1,770,000 pounds of waste from landfills, equivalent to four blue whales!

Why You Should Choose ReStore

When you shop at a ReStore instead of a big-box store, you support a non-profit organization that brings affordable housing to your community, and you join the collective effort to create a more sustainable world. By making small changes, we can build a greener future together.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose with ReStore

·      When you donate, you REDUCE waste and the need for new items to be manufactured

·      When you shop with us, you REUSE products that still have value

·      If we can’t sell it, we do what we can to RECYCLE items so they can be REPURPOSED

Recycling to Give Unsellable Items New Life

Our ReStore staff make regular trips to scrap yards with trucks full of various metal items that couldn’t be sold in-store.

The scrap yards then collect, sort, and process the waste metal—such as steel, aluminum, and copper—by shredding, shearing, and baling it into manageable units. This processed material is sold to mills and smelters, who melt the metal down to create new raw materials and products, contributing to a sustainable manufacturing cycle. 

This process ensures that materials, such as aluminum cans or industrial machinery, can be repurposed multiple times without compromising quality. Any funds that we receive from scrap metal go right back toward keeping our ReStores running smoothly and supporting our mission.

Making Everyday Earth Day

Take a Step Toward a More Sustainable Future Today by Donating or Shopping at ReStore

Want to do more? Click here to read about Biological Diversity's 12 ways to live more sustainably.