How the Green Industry is Becoming Quite Handy

Going green includes repairing items rather than replacing them. It saves untold number of goods from being dumped on landfills and saves consumers money. Old-fashioned handymen are taking part in the green industry in a number of ways by encouraging citizens to "reduce, reuse, recycle" their old items.

One handyman that has garnered national media attention for his work in salvaging and conservation is Seth Barrett of Brookline, Massachusetts. Barrett opened a small repair shop in 2008 called "Village Green Renewal." Since its inception, members of the community have been bringing in broken items, such as chairs, lamps and toasters, for Barrett to repair. He also makes house calls to fix broken doorbells, doors and other items that are obviously unable to be brought into the shop. Additionally, a number of salvaged items such as tiles, hardware, locks, hinges and other recovered items are displayed in "Village Green Renewal," some of which may be sold, and others may be used in repair projects.

Similarly, those who are looking for ways to be involved in the green collar workforce but would like to keep their trade on a small, hometown scale may wish to start their own handyman service. Many items can be repaired without the need for any licensing, but only for the knowledge and skill on how to make things work. Handyman skills can run the gamut from furniture repair to small appliance repair and even to ceramics repair. A lot of the household items that are often put out on the road for garbage pickup can certainly be repaired and put to good use. Dressers, desks, cabinets, armchairs and sofas are all common roadside sights. Instead of families feeling that they must throw out these items due to damage or defect, handymen can make their services available to communities, offering to repair the items for a fraction of the cost one would normally pay to replace them. This not only saves space on the landfills, but it also saves families money.

If you wish to start your own handyman service, come up with a plan on what items you could realistically repair with excellence. Ask yourself if you want to keep all of your work in the shop or if you would be willing to make house calls as well, and decide whether this would be a part time or a full time job, as well. Some may even wish to start a business at home, working right out of their garage or workshop.

So, if you naturally enjoy tinkering with items and believe that the unnecessary layering of landfills is a shame, why not bring back the old-fashioned profession of the handyman? You can help reduce the amount of waste in your community while encouraging others to re-use or recycle their items, saving them money - not to mention earning yourself an income in the process!

Green Career Resources
• *75 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money and Make A Difference
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• *101 Ways to Turn Your Business Green: The Business Guide to Eco-Friendly Profits
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• *Global Warming Is Good for Business: How Savvy Entrepreneurs, Large Corporations, and Others are Making Money While Saving the Planet
• *The Plot to Save the Planet: How Visionary Entrepreneurs and Corporate Titans Are Creating Real Solutions to Global Warming
• *Starting Green: An Ecopreneur's Guide to Starting a Green Business from Business Plans to Profits

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