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Big Reuse Brooklyn

1 12th St
Brooklyn, NY 11215

718-725-8925 x2
[email protected]

 

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Staff

Justin Green

Executive Director and Founder

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Justin Green is the Founder and Executive Director of Big Reuse. Justin has overseen Big Reuse's development from its’ beginning in 2004, having managed the first two deconstruction projects for the Durst Organization that generated the materials required to launch Big Reuse.  Justin helped develop the team at Big Reuse the community composting model which Big Reuse has expanded two include two sites. Together with the original Board of Big Reuse - he created the independent non-profit organization Big Initiatives to host Big Reuse in 2015 when it became independent.    Justin also piloted and directed NYC Cool Roofs for its first two years. Before Big Reuse, Justin worked at a non-profit addressing the housing and energy efficiency needs of low- and middle-income communities. While there, Justin assisted their efforts to establish a statewide loan fund for the installation of energy efficiency measures. He has also managed construction crews in residential development, worked as a Loan Associate with Low Income Investment Fund monitoring loans to non-profit housing developers, and designed for an educational dotcom. Justin received his BA with a double major in Economics and Community Development from Oberlin College.

Steve Haskins

Director - Brooklyn Reuse Center

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Born and raised in the Bronx, NY. Steve graduated from Bard College’s BPI Program where he received an Associate Liberal Arts degree, specializing in history. Steve started at Big Reuse over 5 years ago and now manages our Brooklyn Reuse Center. Some of his previous work experiences include landscaping, woodworking, and custodial work. Steve LOVES snowmobiling, and basically all other motorized winter sports.

CJ Douglass

Donations Director

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Mid-century modern architecture devotee, music lover, national park pilgrim. Born in Australia, studied Architecture at University of Sydney, and postgrad in Sustainability. Proud Big-Reuser!

Bella Rabinovich

Compost Project- Outreach Coordinator 

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Born and raised in the Bronx, I currently live in Queens. The Bronx will always be my favorite, but Queens is growing on me. I went to SUNY Geneseo for my bachelor's, and am currently a master's student in Miami University's Advanced Inquiry Program at the Wildlife Conservation Society. Which is cool, because I get to go to class in the Bronx Zoo and the NY Aquarium. I previously worked with the Forest Project at Wave Hill.

Charles Lynch

Compost Project- Operations Manager

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Born in Altus, Oklahoma, Charles moved to New York City with his mother and sister in 1990 and has hailed from the Bronx ever since. A graduate of Cardinal Spellman High School, Charles now studies Nutrition at Bronx Community College. Before working for NYC Compost Project, Charles interned at The Horticultural Society of New York. He enjoys composting because he feels that everything has a purpose and can be re-purposed. He is proud to do work that helps him both understand and teach about the process of turning unwanted food and scraps into compost, something so vital and useful for the planet. When he's not making compost at BIG, Charles is often working out at the gym or studying for his nutrition classes.

Shakara Petteway

Compost Project- Organics Recovery Coordinator

[email protected]

 

One of Shakara's first jobs was working on a small rural vegetable farm, but after discovering an interest in urban agriculture, she became an Americorps Volunteer with New York Restoration Project. There she taught children and young adults how to grow vegetables, as well as cared for parks and community gardens. As the Public Programs Coordinator, she continued to teach locals about environmental stewardship and urban agriculture. She is eager to be a part of the NYC Compost Project Hosted by Big Reuse and to continue her work as public educator and steward of the environment.

Chris Stadmeyer

Curbside Composting- Project Manager

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Chris worked on farms in New York and Colorado. He taught middle and high school math. Now he combines his passions for nature and education by working for the Big Reuse Curbside Compost Outreach Program.

Mike Stinavage

Assistant Enrollment Coordinator

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Mike Stinavage is an environmentalist and writer attuned to the world of waste. On the day to day he enrolls high-rise apartment buildings, non-profits, and community gardens in the Curbside Composting Program.

Rachel Rabbani

Organics Outreach Associate-Bronx

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Interested in all things waste and facing the realities of the climate crisis Rachel saw no other option then to be a part of a team working to send less waste to landfill. Hailing from oil and gas country Rachel is committed to holding the fossil fuel industry accountable and fighting for a Green New Deal.

Baruch M Blum

Organics Outreach Associate- Brooklyn

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Baruch graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Following graduation, he worked as a goose herdsman at the Yiddish Farm in Goshen, New York, and then as secretary at the magazine, Afn Shvel, before finding his eternal home at Big Reuse.

Sid Berraha

Organics Outreach Associate-Brooklyn

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Currently living in Sunset Park and part of the Brooklyn outreach team, he may or may not secretly still have a soft spot for Astoria, Queens-- his first neighborhood in NY (and the US, more broadly).
Sid received his BA in Political Science from Hunter College before discovering his true calling in environmental sustainability and remediation. 
He is an animal lover, a sci-fi/ horror film enthusiast, an aspiring zero-waster, a music collector/ compulsive playlist creator, and a level-5 vegan

Susan Parmelee

Organics Outreach Associate-Queens

[email protected]

 

Susan is an Outreach Associate at Big Reuse on the Queens team. Her position focuses on educating residents about the curbside composting program in New York City. She attended the University of Vermont, earning a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science. In 2017 she finally left Vermont and moved to Brooklyn. In her free time Susan enjoys going to the movies, trying new foods and spending time with her cat Ted

Tania Wolf

Organics Outreach Associate-Queens

[email protected]

 

Tania is Big Reuse's Community Outreach Associate in Queens, NY. As part of her work, she conducts community outreach for NYC's Curbside Composting program and works with residents and community leaders to cultivate environmental stewardship. Prior to joining our staff, she worked as an Event Coordinator for a local NYC immigrants rights group. She has also worked as an Office Manager for a small jewelry manufacturer in Manhattan and as a Legal Assistant for an immigration attorney. She is currently onboarding to volunteer with NYC's CERT team and is working on applying to CUNY's School of Public Health. She currently resides in Briarwood, Queens, where she's lived most of her life, is a cinephile, and a proud aunt.

Nicole Barrantes

Organics Outreach Associate-Per Diem

[email protected]

 

Hey there! I'm Nicole and I'm a down to earth girl with a love for nature and the outdoors. I studied psychology at Baruch College and enjoy working with people. I'm passionate about getting New Yorkers to recycle their food scraps because it's an incredibly easy and fulfilling way to help tackle climate change and reduce food waste. In my free time, I like to dance and study French.

Francesca DiGiorgio

Organics Outreach Associate-Per Diem

[email protected]

 

Francesca is a Per Diem Outreach Associate with Big Reuse. She enjoys working with communities across Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx to divert food waste from landfills and advance New York City's zero waste agenda. Francesca is also a Compost Coordinator for GrowNYC and a Research and Communications Intern for Food Tank: The Think Tank for Food. Francesca is most interested in leveraging her roles in community outreach and digital communications to highlight the intersection of sustainable food systems, climate justice, and equity in public health. Previously Francesca managed a small sheep and poultry farm in Upstate New York and served as a gardening educator for a food access NGO. In her free time, Francesca enjoys traveling, hiking, petting llamas, and cooking with friends and family.

Michelle Lin

Organics Outreach Associate-Queens

[email protected]

 

Michelle is an Outreach Associate in Queens, NY, where she was born and raised. She graduated from Binghamton University with a degree in Environmental Economics and Spanish. Following graduation, she interned at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, and worked on the UN Natural Resources Forum. She is committed to her passions in sustainability and works to promote curbside composting in NYC.

Bagel

 

 

 

Bagel is our resident warehouse cat. He also serves as our IT cat. He loves napping on laptops, during really inconvenient times. He will walk all over your keyboard and create shortcuts you didn't know were possible. He loves chicken in gravy. He always wants to be where the action is, especially if you are eating food. He is the sweetest cat ever. Though he doesn't as much work as he is suppose to, he is still loved by many of our staff.

Christian Arthur

Donations

[email protected]

 

I pick things up and I put them down

Ellis

Donations

[email protected]

Jobs

Big Reuse Marketing Intern

The Big Reuse Intern is primarily responsible for helping to build out the Big Reuse Google Ads Grant account, monitoring and improving marketing metrics. The intern will also contribute to any outreach campaigns including flyer design and distribution, developing press, donor, supporter and other contact lists. The intern may also be asked to prepare documents and flyers in the Adobe graphics suite.

Candidates need to be tech savvy, familiar with Adobe suite and ideally have basic graphics capabilities.

Position Schedule

  • Outreach Associate staff will work 6 hours/week to expand public awareness of the Big Reuse Donation Center/Store. Position would run until the end of June 2019 with a possibility of extending beyond that.
  • Work weeks vary but are typically Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Responsibilities

  • Maintain and develop the Google Ads Account.
  • Maintain the Google Business account.
  • Contribute to design, production and distribution of print marketing campaigns.
  • Assist in maintaining online listings.
  • Provide outreach to local stores for marketing materials.

Requirements/Skills

  • Ideal candidates will be interested in marketing, advertising, public outreach.
  • Enthusiastic about reuse, and keeping usable homegoods, appliances, furniture and C&D materials out of landfill.
  • Experience with a wide range of computer applications (Excel, MS Word, Outlook, +)
  • Ability to commute to Gowanus, Brooklyn and willingness to work in a warehouse environment.
  • Preferred: Bachelor’s Degree (Preferably in Environmental Science, Marketing or another related field)

BENEFITS

This is an unpaid position.

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL

Entry level

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIRED

N/A

HOW TO APPLY

  • Send resume, cover letter and references to: [email protected] with “Marketing Intern” followed by your first and last name in the subject line of the email.
  • No phone calls please.

Supporters

Junkluggers

The Junkluggers provides fast, professional and eco-friendly junk removal, rubbish, trash and furniture donation pick up services for valued commercial and residential customers.

Empire State Development

Empire State Development (ESD), Big Reuse's primary funder, encourages and supports activities that both strengthen the State's economy and protect and preserve the environment. To accomplish this, ESD offers a range of resources to help businesses identify and transform environmental concerns into market opportunities and competitive advantages. Through its Environmental Services Unit (ESU), ESD provides New York State businesses with the tools they need to understand and comply with environmental regulations and provides financial assistance for investments in projects that improve business productivity and competitiveness through enhanced environmental performance. For more information on New York State's environmental services, contact Empire State Development at 1-800-STATE-NY or 1-800-782-8369.

Zapier

Zapier is an online automation tool that connects your favorite apps, such as Gmail, Slack, MailChimp, and over 750 more. You can connect two or more apps to automate repetitive tasks without coding or relying on developers to build the integration. Move info between your web apps automatically, so you can focus on your most important work. It's easy enough that anyone can build their own app workflows with just a few clicks.

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