Article Summary
In 2025, Melton Design Build recycled, diverted, and donated thousands of pounds of construction and office materials. Our annual “Recycle Rewind” reflects our people-first values as a Certified B Corporation and highlights how thoughtful decisions on jobsites and in our offices support a more responsible built environment.
Table of Contents
- A Different Way to Look Back
- 2025 Recycle Rewind at a Glance
- Recycling and Diversion on Our Jobsites
- Donation and Reuse in the Community
- What This Work Means as a Certified B Corporation
- Continuing to Build with Intention
- Frequently Asked Questions
A Different Way to Look Back
At the end of the year, many of us are used to seeing a familiar recap, a “wrapped” summary of what stayed on repeat, what defined the year, and what we spent the most time with.
Our Recycle Rewind takes that same energy and applies it to the built environment. Instead of songs and playlists (we see you, secret Swifties!), we focus on physical materials and how they move through our work. What passed through our jobsites, what was recycled, reused, or donated, and what those choices say about our responsibility to the people, homes, and communities we serve.
As a Certified B Corporation, we believe accountability includes paying attention to what leaves a project just as much as what goes into it.
2025 Recycle Rewind at a Glance
Throughout the year, our field and office staff worked together to recycle, divert, and donate a wide range of materials. Materials were categorized as recycled when they were processed through a recycling or diversion facility and as donated when they were transferred directly to community partners for reuse.
In 2025 we recycled, reused, or diverted over 16 tons of materials, including:
- 10,675 pounds of cardboard
- 10,525 pounds of scrap metal
- 8,450 pounds of clean wood diversion
- 675 pounds of yard waste diversion
- 500 pounds of porcelain
- 425 pounds of durable plastic
- 325 pounds of wire and cable
- 350 pounds of paver stones
- 16.75 cubic yards of styrofoam
- 250 pounds of office electronics and computers
- 15 pounds of office and household batteries
Each of these numbers represents dozens of everyday decisions made by our team in the field and the office. Those choices reduce landfill use and support material recovery at scale.
Recycling and Diversion on Our Jobsites
Construction recycling doesn’t happen accidentally. Cardboard needs to be separated. Clean wood must stay clean. Metals have to be sorted and hauled to the right facilities. These steps take coordination, training, and commitment from every person involved in a project.
By prioritizing diversion on our jobsites, we reduce waste while respecting the resources that go into building homes. This approach reflects our belief that craftsmanship includes how materials are handled before and after installation.
Donation and Reuse in the Community
Some materials never need to be broken down; they simply need a new place to land. In 2025, we donated the following items to community partners and reuse organizations:
- 1,225 pounds of hardware and fasteners
- 250 pounds of hand tools
- 19 boxes of tile
- 16 cabinet boxes
- 12 new light fixtures
- 24 doors
- 8 windows in various sizes
- 150 pounds of plumbing fixtures
- 5 stainless-steel bar sinks
- 8 sheets of 4×8′ OSB or plywood
- 2 solid surface countertops measuring approximately 3×6′
- 1 large van-mounted paint storage box with drawers
Donation extends the life of materials and supports people who may not otherwise have access to them. It also shifts how we think about remodeling waste. What comes out of one home can still serve another.
What This Work Means as a Certified B Corporation
Being a Certified B Corporation asks us to look beyond individual projects and consider the broader impact of our work. The certification is guided by B Lab’s standards, which measure social and environmental performance across areas like governance, workers, community, and the environment. For us, it provides a framework for turning values into everyday practice.
Our recycling, diversion, and donation efforts are one way those standards show up in real time. Planning for material reuse, sorting waste on jobsites, and tracking where materials go after a project ends all require intention and coordination. This work involves people across our organization and often happens behind the scenes, but it plays an important role in how we define responsibility within the built environment.
People-first choices are rarely dramatic. They show up in small, consistent moments. Choosing to donate cabinets instead of discarding them. Taking the time to separate clean wood. Working with partners who share our commitment to reuse and access. Over the course of a year, those moments add up to meaningful impact.
As we continue to learn and improve, this work helps keep us aligned with the standards we hold ourselves to and reinforces the idea that building well includes caring for what leaves a project just as much as what goes into it.
Continuing to Build with Intention
Our Recycle Rewind isn’t about perfection – it’s about progress. Each year gives us new insight into where our systems work well and where we can do better. As the built environment continues to evolve, so will our approach to material responsibility.
We are grateful to the people who make this work possible. Our teams, our partners, and our community all play a role in making sure materials are handled responsibly, resources stay in use longer, and the impact of our work extends beyond a single project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Resource Central, and why does Melton partner with them?
Resource Central is a Boulder-based nonprofit that helps people save energy, conserve water, and reduce waste through reuse and education programs. Many of the materials Melton donates, including cabinets, fixtures, doors, and tools, are routed through Resource Central so they can be reused by people in our community.
We partner with Resource Central because their work aligns closely with our people-first values. By supporting reuse instead of disposal, we help extend the life of building materials, reduce landfill waste, and make home improvement resources more accessible.
Why does construction recycling matter?
Construction and demolition waste accounts for a significant portion of landfill volume. Recycling and reuse reduce environmental impact and conserve resources.
What materials can be recycled during a remodel?
Common recyclable materials include cardboard, metal, clean wood, plastics, electronics, and certain fixtures, depending on condition and local facilities.
How does Melton decide what gets donated?
Materials that are functional, safe, and reusable are prioritized for donation through local community partners and reuse organizations.
What does Certified B Corporation mean?
Certified B Corporations meet verified standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. You can learn more by visiting bcorporation.net
Can homeowners support recycling during a remodel?
Yes! Early planning, material selection, and open communication with the project team help support recycling and reuse goals.