This article by Pop City‘s Lee Chilcote is a virtual treasure trove of information on reuse programs all over the country – especially the midwest. It is well written and informative. Do yourself a Friday favor and take a moment to read the entire article.

“It used to be just the poor, starving artist stereotype of taking found materials and dumpster diving out of necessity,” says MaryEllen Etienne, Executive Director of the Reuse Alliance, a national group based in Dayton, Ohio. “We see that still, but there’s more thought in it. They’re trying to have an impact by showing that these things can still be beautiful and have meaning rather than just sitting and wasting in a landfill.”

via Turning trash into treasure: How creative reuse is boosting local economies.