.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Fifteen years ago, Lyle and Trudy Ball founded Home Recycling Exchange as a way to help those “living on the margins of society.”

The organization takes items bound for the landfill and makes them available to low-income homeowners.

“We felt these materials could be better utilized to rehabilitate low-income homes and substandard housing in the Des Moines area,” Trudy Ball said.

Now, the organization has two full-time and two part-time employees and a budget of around $100,000 a year.

“It’s been a lot of hard work, but it is satisfying to be able to do our part,” she said.

John Meister, Home Recycling’s director, said his hope is that the organization can increase its relationship with local builders and contractors.

“We’re on a shoestring budget, but our hope is that instead of a builder tossing old cabinets or doors into a landfill, they will donate them to us for a tax deduction and we can make them available to someone who really needs them,” he said.

For those who qualify under the Housing and Urban Development Department’s low-income guidelines, all the merchandise, from appliances to molding, is free. Others can purchase the items at a discount.

“We work closely with a lot of community agencies,” Meister said. “That helps get the word out about our services.”

He said the organization not only serves a valuable purpose of providing for the needs of low-income homeowners, but also helps the environment by keeping items out of landfills. “It’s very rewarding to be able to do this,” he said. “We really feel like we’re making a difference.”

Besides donating goods to the organization, there are several other ways interested parties can get involved, Ball said, that range from volunteering in the offices or warehouse to making a financial contribution to the organization.

Meister said stories of catastrophes are commonplace for many of the people who utilize his organization’s services, from people whose homes have been damaged by a fire to landlords hoping to fix up their rental properties.

Through sales and donations, Home Recycling has managed to become self-sufficient, Ball said. It is also a part of Iowa Shares, which does workplace fund-raising drives for its member organizations.

Home Recycling’s hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. It accepts dropoffs or will pick up donations of materials.