Habitat for Humanity ReStore is turning metal into building homes!
Interested in sustainability and like to take things apart? The scrap metal recycling program at the Habitat ReStores is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a community of doers helping to reduce waste and support Habitat for Humanity’s mission!
Here’s how it works:
The ReStores accept donations of gently used and new items like furniture, appliances, building materials, lighting, home goods, and more. These items are sold to the public at discounted prices, and the proceeds generated support local Habitat homebuilding and home repair programs.
When items donated to the ReStore are not able to be resold, volunteers dismantle, disassemble, remove, and separate the metal components into different category types for recycling. When the individual metals are clean and separated, they can be sold by the pound, which adds up quickly!
This program allows the ReStore to reduce the amount of materials sent to our local landfills, while maximizing the value of recycling scrap metal to raise additional funds that go towards Habitat’s mission of affordable homeownership. In the 2025 fiscal year, the Portland Region ReStores diverted 8,600 tons of reusable materials from landfills and raised more than $128,000 from their scrap metal recycling program alone.
Volunteers are key to the success of this program.
As a volunteer, you can learn to identify the differences between copper, brass, stainless steel, aluminum, zinc and other metals in order to make the biggest impact. You get to dismantle a variety of metal items including microwaves, ceiling fans, light fixtures, faucets, and much more with the use of advanced hand tools and power tools. Most of all, you get to have fun all while making a difference in our community!
The ReStores provide full training for volunteers on metal recycling, from how to identify metals to how to safely disassemble items, so no prior expertise or experience needed. There are tasks suitable for all skill levels and abilities.
The ReStores are always looking for more volunteers to join their team and support with metal recycling.
If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about the ReStores, visit www.pdxrestore.org .
