East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse

History

The Depot was founded in 1979 by a group of Oakland Unified School District teachers for the dual purposes of providing ecological, reused supplies at low cost to educators with dwindling budgets and keeping reusable materials out of the landfill.

Over its 47 years, the Depot has gone from a small, scrappy exchange center to a thriving business and a model for reuse centers around the country. The organization attained nonprofit status early on, in 1981, which allowed it to receive grant funding and launch its educational programs. Its two relocations, each 20 years apart, increased visibility, access, diversion rates, and the number of customers served.

The move from San Pablo Avenue to Telegraph Avenue in 2007 brought the Depot to the bustling Temescal commercial district, with more foot traffic, local businesses, and residents. It gave the Depot the opportunity to renovate an old space using ecological practices, bring in a new population of customers, and was pivotal to its growth as an organization.

THE DEPOT ON SAN PABLO AVENUE

About the Interviewee

Maggie Tenenbaum is the Administrative and Finance Manager at the Depot. Since 2000, she has performed various roles, including Executive Assistant, Special Events Coordinator, and Bookkeeper.

Economy and Changes Over Time

The cost of rental space and the high cost of living for staff are continuous challenges.

Community

The Depot says it “would be nothing without our customers!” 100% of its inventory is donated by the public, and 100% of it goes back to the local community as low-cost art and educational supplies. Support from the Temescal business district and the City of Oakland has also been instrumental to the Depot's success.

INSIDE THE DEPOT