Excellence in Recycling
NCDOT and Habitat for Humanity Partnership

Habitat for Humanity's Recycle Yard

Volunteers recycling wood molding

North Carolina Department of Transportation
Habitat for Humanity, Wake County

This unique partnership utilizes an innovative approach for reducing landfill material. Right-of-way acquisition for highway construction in Wake County is now involving the community in the process of recycling building materials. Instead of demolishing the existing homes located within the planned alignment of a new road, volunteers deconstruct selected homes and salvage materials, such as wood flooring, cabinets, doors, windows, and appliances to be sold by Habitat for Humanity to the general public at reduced prices, and the money is used to purchase materials for Habitat houses. The success of this program has initiated other partnerships across the State with Habitat for Humanity. The community involvement along with the economic, social, and environmental benefits of this transportation program helps demonstrate to the public the added value of recycling a product that normally would be discarded as waste.

Windows and doors ready for reuse.

Project Contributors North Carolina Department of Transportation, Division 5       Marie Sutton Habitat for Humanity of Wake County       Ryan Jacoby