Community Impact

Why creative reuse?

At ACR’s creative reuse center, you can let your imagination run wild and save the planet at the same time. Creative reuse keeps usable materials out of the landfill; saves the natural resources that would have been used to make those materials from new; reduces the climate impacts of waste disposal; improves access to affordable creative materials; and fosters creativity by asking folks to rethink “stuff.”

To date, ACR has diverted more than two million pounds of usable creative materials from the landfill and hosted hundreds of workshops and community events to promote creative reuse. Our diversion rate is more than 96% meaning that we send less than 4% of the materials donations we receive in our center to the landfill. We welcome about 3,000 visitors per month to our creative reuse center and receive approximately 10,000 volunteer hours per year donated to the organization. We are hard at work creating a vibrant community hub where all kinds of people can come together to shop, explore and create.


Awards & Recognition

Austin Chronicle’s Best of Austin 2018 - Best Arts and Crafts Store

Austin Chronicle Critic’s Choice Awards 2021 - Best Earth Friendly Crafting 

Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency 2021


Austin Young Chamber - Finalist - FAVE Arts & Culture Experience 2021

Austin Green Business Leaders Platinum 2020


Austin Young Chamber - Finalist - FAVE Arts & Culture Experience 2020

 

Windsor Park Neighborhood Hero Award

 

Memberships

We are proud members of the following organizations and networks:

AISD Environmental Sustainability Advisory Council

Equity Task Force

Zero Waste & Procurement Sub-Committee

Harris Elementary School Campus Advisory Council

Mission Capital

STAR Reuse Council

Young Nonprofit Professionals Network Austin

 

Annual Reports