Carver County has nearly 48,000 homes, with about 30% of these built before 1980. This has led to an increase in demand for home renovations and demolitions. Consequently, there is a growing need for responsible management of building materials that could otherwise end up in landfills.  Deconstruction is the process of dismantling a building to enable components to be reused. This can range from salvaging a few select items to systematically dismantling an entire structure.

Many building materials can be reused, including appliances, cabinetry, hardware, light fixtures, lumber, solid wood doors, trim, windows, and wood flooring. Approximately 80% of Minnesota’s construction and demolition waste is currently disposed of in landfills. Salvaging items helps keep these materials out of the waste stream.

Before starting a demolition or renovation project, consider removing items for reuse or salvage. To support deconstruction projects, Carver County offers grants and collaborates with Nordic Waste and Home Again Furnishings to provide convenient drop-off and pick-up locations for eligible materials.