About Us

What We Are Building:

Grass Roots is building a community network in Northwest Ohio to keep good materials in use and out of the landfill.

We bring together neighbors, educators, makers, and businesses to reclaim, reuse, and reimagine materials that still have value, turning cast-offs into useful and creative new pieces.

Members can donate materials, find reclaimed wood and project supplies, or share their own reconstructed work through Grass Roots events and our retail shop.

Our long-term goal is to strengthen local creativity, reuse, and environmental stewardship across the region.

How We Work Together:

Grass Roots was created to fill a local gap in reuse, connecting people, materials, and ideas in ways traditional recycling programs cannot.

We focus on:

Recovering and redistributing quality materials that still have life left..
Supporting material donors with convenient drop-off and access to free or discounted reclaimed goods.
Working with reconstructors and makers to provide affordable reclaimed wood and opportunities to display or sell their work through our shop, our website, and community events.
Sharing knowledge about the value of reuse and local sustainability.
Learning and improving through experience to make a lasting difference for future generations.

Recycling Facts

The Good News

77% of Americans believe that recycling makes a difference
73% of Americans have access to a recycling program

The Bad News

Only 43% of American Households participate in recycling.
Among households who do recycle, 43% of recyclable materials never make it to the recycling bin.
Only 20% of household recyclable materials generated in Ohio are recycled, resulting in the equivalent of about 100,000 large dump truck loads of recyclables going to Ohio landfills annually.

The Better News

Recycling and reuse under-performance is fixable!
Grass roots recycling initiatives can help fill gaps in public programs.
Strategic “Recycling to Reuse” programs like Grass Roots Recycling to Reuse Network can provide cultural and economic local benefits while supporting broader environmental interests.