Evanston ReBuilding Warehouse

Specialties

The Evanston ReBuilding Warehouse is a non-​profit organization that promotes reduction of waste in landfills through sustainable deconstruction and renovation building practices. Reclaimed building materials are sold at our warehouse at low cost to the community and support our education, job-​training and job-​development programs which foster individual, community and economic growth in Evanston and beyond. We welcome you to reuse, recycle and/​or repurpose any of the items filling our 11,000 sf warehouse!

History

Established in 2011.

The Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse (ERW) is a 501©3 nonprofit community organization and materials reuse warehouse. After only three years, the ERW is completely self-​sustaining and has moved from its original location to an 11,000 square foot warehouse at 2101 West Dempster Street in the west end of Evanston. The ERW now supports a staff of 5 and has over 150 active volunteers and over 600 members. Tens of thousands of tons of material have already been diverted from landfills.

Beyond diverting materials from the waste stream, the ERW’s mission has expanded to provide multiple job training programs for individuals facing barriers to employment. In January 2014, the ERW officially established the Evanston Rebuilding WORKFORCE, a green jobs training initiative. This comprehensive training course in deconstruction is helping disadvantaged individuals find success in long-​term employment using the ERW warehouse as a learning laboratory and through on-​the-​job training.

Meet the Business Owner

Lou D.

Business Owner

The Evanston Rebuilding Wareshouse (ERW) was started by Executive Director Lou Dickson, who after 20 years as a local contractor, became fed up with the amount of usable material going into the dumpster. She started storing materials from deconstructed and renovated buildings and formed a small board of community members to launch the ERW, a 501©3 nonprofit community organization and materials reuse warehouse.

Since the warehouse’s inception, Lou has worked tirelessly to expand the mission to offer multiple job training programs for individuals facing barriers to employment. In January 2014, the ERW officially established the Evanston Rebuilding WORKFORCE, a green jobs training initiative.