Time to Remodel – What to do with the old office stuff?

Have you found that it is time to remodel your office or business, but you don’t know what to do with all of the “old stuff”? The cubicles, the chairs, the desks, filing cabinets, etc. need a new home, but have you found that you don’t know where to start? Sometimes a remodel includes a re-branding, too! So, what do you do with all of the wrong color of card stock, paper stock that has an outdated logo, and office supplies you no longer need?

Well, we have the answer, at least a few options available in the Twin Cities metro area, for you to consider as you tackle that next remodel project!

In this blog post, you will learn:

  • Available options for recycling business furniture, supplies, and materials
  • Links to available options

After attending an Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting recently, I spoke with the Dean of Students at FIT Academy, Tamra Paschall. I was delighted to find out that there are options for Minnesota businesses to donate unused and no longer needed office equipment and supplies.

Resources for Donating Office Equipment and Materials

Kids Thank You.jpgMs. Paschall shared a couple of resources with me. The first is Minnesota Materials Exchange and Public Surplus (you may learn more by clicking on each of the associated links).

According to the MN Materials Exchange website, The Minnesota Materials Exchange is the waste-not classifieds especially for:

  • Minnesota businesses
  • Industry
  • Non-Profits
  • Institutions

 The Materials Exchange is a free service that links organizations that have reusable goods they no longer need to those who can use them. This business reuse network helps prevent usable materials from becoming waste and saves users money.

The program is operated as part of the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) at the University of Minnesota. MnTAP provides tailored pollution prevention and energy efficiency solutions for Minnesota businesses.

You would be amazed at the variety of items that show up on the list! What a great opportunity for organizations to re-use needed materials!

One additional place to consider for donations is the recycled building supply store managed by Habitat for Humanity, called the ReStore. There are locations all throughout Minnesota & Western Wisconsin, and you can contact your local site to find out what they are willing to accept. Some will even come to your location to pick up materials.

It also got me thinking about our clients we help with remodels, additions, expansions and even new buildings. When your space needs change, often times so do your office equipment and office supply needs. As a result, I believe that this information is helpful for other business owners to know. Until that meeting, I had never known about the MN Materials Exchange or the Public Surplus groups!

I hope this information is helpful for you and your business! If you need help with a remodel, contact our team. If you need to donate your “stuff”…now you know where to go!


If you are considering a change in your space and are thinking that it might be time to remodel, our property solutions team is available to answer any questions you may have.

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