Zerolandfill.net is an organization that supports the constantly expanding sustainability activities in Northeast Ohio by collecting and recycling the castoff materials from interior design firms. The organization began in 2006 when interior designer Amanda Dempsey saw the need to recycle as she cleaned out her product library.
“It is a necessity to show clients the latest samples, and the manufacturers never want the old samples returned,” Dempsey said. “The product libraries were an untapped resource for recycling.”
As she cleaned out her library of old samples of vinyl, fabric, carpet and the large binders that stored the materials, a mountain of trash collected. She found that other interior designers in the area saw the need to recycle as well.
Thus the Zerolandfill project team was created. The team includes Amy Todd (Bialosky and Partners Architects), Kristina Kosloff (HGF Architects), Christy Gray (The Red Dot Project), Jeff Krejci and Debbir Horvath (InterfaceFlor) and David Fox and Mike Dungan (Business Interiors and Environments).
The team called for all designers in the area to drop off their product samples, which were then separated into containers based on their materials. Within a few hours, tons of materials ranging from glass and bricks to carpet and wallpaper were donated to the pick-up site. The materials were redistributed to local artists and design and education programs. Perhaps the most beneficial was the reuse of library binders. These were donated to local schoolchildren to use in classroom.
This year the donation process is simplified and continues all summer long. Donors can drop off their materials at the Business Interior and Environments’ Cleveland Showroom at 2003 St. Clair Ave. in Cleveland. Drop off is every Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Labor Day.
Dempsey hopes that the project will continue to grow and expand.
“We are hoping to find funding to appeal to Akron and other areas of Northeast Ohio,” Dempsey said. “One day it may be a for-profit business with a warehouse and sorters. It is an opportunity to bring jobs to the community.”
It is also an opportunity to bring awareness to both the environmental and arts communities. This year Zerolandfill coordinators are working with Christine Mitten, director for Young Audiences, a non-profit focused on making the arts an essential part of education. The materials collected from design firms will be reused for children’s art and education.
“We have had a lot of great feedback from design firm principals,” Dempsey said. “But to really make it work the firms need an employee to spearhead their plans for donation.”
Vist the Zerolandfill.net page
