A Call to Preserve Community and Environment
Nov 26, 2025
Empowering the Next Generation of Land Stewards
The youth of New York City are our future land stewards, educators, and advocates. They'll be inheriting the world we leave behind, which is why we're so passionate about providing environmental education and resources to all New Yorkers. Our tree care team recently worked with students at PS 705, PS050Q, and Brooklyn College to care for street trees in their neighborhoods.
Nov 26, 2025
Give BIG for NYC!
We believe that local action and engagement makes a BIG impact. As we continue to bring reuse, composting programs and education, tree care, and tree planting across NYC neighborhoods, we’re grateful to deepen connections and partnerships with residents and neighbors in all five boroughs.
Nov 14, 2025
Big Reuse Booklist: Stories That Inspire Change
We make sure books are reused by those who will appreciate their words, keeping our bookstore at our Gowanus Reuse Center (1 12th St) regularly stocked with new finds. You can also find us on Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookstores like ours. Through this partnership, Big Reuse receives 30% of every purchase made through our Bookshop.org page, helping to support Big Reuse’s environmental and community programs – including composting, curbside composting outreach, tree care, tree planting, reuse, and youth engagement projects across the city.
Nov 14, 2025
Book Review: Lessons of Gratitude from Braiding Sweetgrass
NYSERDA Fellow Tatiana Guerra on Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass.
Nov 14, 2025
Corporate Volunteer Days with Big Reuse: Building a Greener City, Together
Corporate Volunteering with environmental nonprofit Big Reuse!
Nov 14, 2025
Celebrating 10 Years of Big Reuse Making a BIG Impact in NYC!
We’re so thrilled to celebrate 10 Years of Big Reuse! That’s a decade of bringing together NYC residents to care for their green spaces, embrace composting, and divert items from the landfill.
Nov 10, 2025
Benefits of Thrifting Furniture from Big Reuse
When you walk into Big Reuse, you never really know what you’ll find – and that’s part of the magic. One visit might lead you to a metallic dresser that looks straight out of the 1960s, and the next could surprise you with a cane chair, a weathered trunk, or a beautifully carved wooden cabinet that seems to hold stories of its own. Every piece here has a history, and when it finds a new home, that story keeps going.
Nov 10, 2025
Best Vintage Treasure Finds in NYC
Nonprofits and community thrift stores take pride in being treasure troves of timeless finds, offering donated clothing for sale - and in Big Reuse’s case, furniture, building materials, home goods, books, and a large variety of other items as well - while helping people discover the beauty of reuse and the connections that come with it.
Nov 7, 2025
From Feast to Future: Composting Your Food Scraps
Composting in New York City is easier than ever, no matter where you live. Whether you’re in an apartment, a house, or somewhere in between, there are many options to give your food scraps a second life.
Nov 6, 2025
Turning Waste Into Renewal: Our Curbside Composting Journey
Between August-October 2025, the Curbside Composting Outreach team hosted 49 events, connected with 2,278 New Yorkers, and shared 1,200 kitchen containers and 100 leaf bags to increase awareness and understanding for composting, and make participating in the city’s curbside composting program easier.
Nov 5, 2025
Protecting NYC’s Street Trees with Youth: Tree Guard Install Project
Over the past seven months, the Big Reuse Street Tree Care team has been working with local youth to install 35 new tree guards across Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Gowanus, Boerum Hill, East New York, Park Slope, and Midwood. Through this project, 145 youth participants had the chance to learn about caring for trees, how to install tree guards, and the importance of protecting green spaces in their communities.
Nov 3, 2025
Big Reuse's Fall Tree Care (September & October 2025)
This fall, Big Reuse cared for 576 street trees with the help of 566 volunteers, including 169 youth participants. We also teamed up with 23 community partners, each helping us build stronger, greener connections across the city. Together, we cleared litter, loosened soil, and added mulch allowing roots to breathe and trees to thrive. What makes this work so special is that it’s about more than just caring for trees, it is about caring for the community.