Contractors and other customers at the Rapid City landfill could have another option for disposing of used but still salvageable building materials as soon as April.

Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity received a preliminary go-ahead from the city’s Public Works Committee on Tuesday to open a reuse center at the city-owned landfill on Highway 79.

The goal is to provide landfill customers with an easy, free opportunity to recycle old cabinets, light fixtures, sinks, toilets and other construction materials otherwise headed for the landfill, according to officials.

“As people are coming to the landfill and might have some type of material that has some life in it, rather than throw it in the pit and bury it, these items will be diverted,” Public Works Director Robert Ellis said. “It’s very innovative and progressive.”

The dropped off items would be assessed by Habitat staff and, if recyclable, sold at their new ReStore location, 610 E. Omaha St. Proceeds from ReStore sales support the local efforts of Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity.

Craig Lewis, manager of the ReStore, said building contractors throw away a lot of reusable materials just because there’s no easy way to recycle them.

“This will be a benefit to everyone. It makes it easy for contractors; it keeps things out of the landfill; and it helps us build homes for families in the Black Hills,” Lewis said.

If the full city council approves the agreement Monday, the reuse center should be open for drop-offs by April 1, Lewis said. Habitat will provide all the personnel needed to staff the drop-off site.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the reuse center will begin as a six-month pilot program in a temporary location just inside the landfill gates. If deemed successful, the landfill may consider a more permanent location for the center.

In its first year of operation, a program at the Habitat ReStore site has reused or sold 104 tons of donated construction debris and materials that otherwise would have ended up in the landfill, according to the memorandum of understanding.

In other action, the committee approved holding a neighborhood meeting to talk with residents about whether they want a traffic signal at the intersection of South Valley Drive and St. Patrick Street.

In December, the signal was knocked out by a delivery truck, and the city has yet to replace it.

The city’s traffic engineer told aldermen the intersection does not need a traffic light, and neighbors are split on the proposal. The date of the meeting has not been set.

Contact Emilie Rusch at 394-8453 or emilie.rusch@rapidcityjournal.com.