In 1995, the Eastern Rensselaer County Solid Waste Authority, decided that they wanted to create an outlet for the reusable items which were still perfectly good, but currently being landfilled.  From the beginning, they also saw an opportunity to provide low-cost items to the low-to-moderate income residents of their rural community.  Through a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and a partnership with an organization already operating a reuse center in Albany, the solid waste authority worked with another local non-profit called Barnraisers.  While the initial years were plagued with challenges, the authority was able to establish a reuse center that spun off in 1997 as a separate non-profit organization, and changed the center name to the ERC Community Warehouse.

The Community:  The ERC Community Warehouse is located in Hoosick Falls, New York, a town with a population base of 3,400 people .  The solid waste authority oversees the waste management of three towns and four villages.  Total population in the authority is 22,680.   While the warehouse primarily serves the same area served by the authority, they also draw from larger, outlying communities, such as Bennington, Vermont, Albany, New York, and Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Important Partnerships:  While the ERC Community Warehouse is a separate 501c3 non-profit organization, part of the success of the program is it's continued partnership with the Eastern Rensselaer Solid Waste Authority.  The organizations have separate boards and separate financial accounting, but share office space, share personnel, share vehicles and share some services.

Another important partner is found in the universities and colleges located near the center.  The community warehouse works closely with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Williams College, and Southern Vermont College.  The center gets materials from students at the end of the school year, but also markets heavily to the student population for low-cost furniture, office furniture and household items.  One time, they even took a truckload of items out to the campus and sold items to students.

Budget/Revenues:  The ERC Community Warehouse annual budget is approximately $140,000 a year.  This is made up of key categories, including: Mortgage & Loans - $8,500; Payroll - $70,000; Advertising - $10,000; Vehicle lease/purchase/maintenance - $10,000; Insurance - $9,000; Utilities - $8,000.  In 2002, sales were $147,000.  Sales have increased an average of 4% per year since 1998.  The initial building was paid one half by a grant from New York's Office of Recycling Market Development and one half from a bank loan.  While the original mortgage was recently paid off, the center will be taking out a new bank loan to pay for roof, siding and door repairs to their facilities.

Facility:  ERC Community Warehouse consists of one main 10,000 square foot building and two outbuildings/barns which add up to another 10,000 square foot.

Personnel:  Three full-time staff (warehouse/operations manager, 2 driver/laborers), 1 part-time staff  (sales/cashier), plus two shared part-time solid waste authority personnel.

Materials Handled:  ERC Community Warehouse accepts donations of:  home and office furniture, appliances, building materials, computers and electronics, sporting and exercise equipment, books, records and furnishings.  They also accept clothing, but divert those materials directly to the local Salvation Army.  Items that move quickly include filing cabinets, good couches, dressers and appliances.  They avoid old computers, and require computers to have a CD drive and modem.  They also avoid taking single pain windows, phone systems and console televisions and stereos.  ERC does quick checks on all appliances and electronics to be certain the item is in working condition, but does no repair. Pricing of materials based on market rate, experience or research, and generally, items run 1/3  to 1/2 of retail.  Large items are tagged with prices, but not smaller items.  While they try to discourage price negotiation, most customers try to dicker and get a lower price.

Vehicle/Pick Up:  ERC has purchased a 16' box truck.  Used to lease the vehicle, but became a greater value to center to own truck.  One advantage of the 16' truck is that it does not require a commercial drivers license (CDL) to operate.  There is no charge to pick up materials.  Items are screened for condition and appropriateness over the phone, but driver has final discretion in taking item at the time of pick-up.

Clientele:  ERC Community Warehouse is open to the general public.  A significant percentage of their customers shop there because they cannot afford to purchase items new.  They sell a lot of items to students, landlords, and the elderly.

Marketing:  ERC uses two taglines:  "10,000 square feet of pre-owned treasures", and "It's not just a store, It's an adventure".  They spend nearly $10,000 a year in advertising in the local paper, yellow pages, and doing direct marketing flyers to the colleges and universities.

In addition, ERC Community Warehouse hosts the annual Earth Day even a he warehouse, and also gives tours of the facility to school children as part of their recycling and reuse education.

Greatest Challenges:  Good people, good stuff, and the growing competition of new thrift stores in surrounding communities.

Overcoming Challenges:  Distinguish the community warehouse from other programs, such as offering pick-up services.  Also ERC has created a niche in office furniture which no one else in the community fills.

Annual Diversion:  It is estimated that the ERC Community Warehouse diverts 150 tons of reusable materials per year.