salvaging

janna frenzel & lee wilkins

 salvage [verb] salvageable [adjective]

1. to save goods from 1. if something is salvageable,

damage or destruction it can be saved
2. to try to make a situation better 2. able to be improved from a bad
situation and made good again
Cambridge Dictionary

Who salvages, where, and why?

What makes salvage a

viable and necessary, practice?

What is the relationship between salvaging and

reuse/transformation?

If salvaging means saving something,

what exactly are we saving it from?

How do we define what is worth salvaging?

What can be improved,

or made well again, through salvaging?

How does salvage preserve value, and for whom?

This zine investigates practices of salvage as a way
to intervene in systemic problems around waste.
We interview two intiatives in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal,
Recyborg and Concordia University Centre for
Creative Reuse (CUCCR), which tackle the idea
of salvage from two different perspectives. Our
conversations demonstrate some of the ways
organizations attempt to intervene in the consumer
pipeline that encourages buying new objects rather
than reusing or modifying existing ones.

While terms like “circular economy” and “zero

waste” have become catchphrases in public policy
debates and academic work around low-carbon
transitions, we suggest that salvaging is different.
We understand it as less institutionalised, more
improvised, rooted in Do-it-yourself or Do-it-with-
others approaches. Salvaging circumvents or even
opposes convenience. As a method, it requires us
to slow down research/-creation processes to allow
for searching in different spaces for the materials
[thoughts, arguments] needed to create an artwork
or to build an object [write a text, build theory].
Salvaging influences the shape of possible outputs
or conclusions based on availability rather than on
demand. Salvaging diverts materials from landfills
and prevents the purchase of new ones, thereby
potentially reducing extraction.
 In Montreal, in a neighborhood called Hochelaga, a small
storefront can easily be walked past if you don't know what
you're looking for. The shelves inside are stacked high with a
bizarre array of electrical parts, motors, old TV remotes, and
power supplies arranged into roughly like categories. We first
stumbled across Recyborg while looking for places in the city
where we could salvage parts for our solar panel projects, and
wondered what motivates these folks and how they run their
operations? We chatted with one of the creators to find out.

Hochelaga-Maisonneuve location: Pointe-Saint-Charles location:

3811 Sainte-Catherine Est 1900c rue le Ber
Montreal QC H1W2G3 Montreal QC H3K 2A4
Canada Canada

info@recyborg.com
tel: 438-506-2240
janna & lee: What is Recyborg?

François Pedneault: Recyborg is many things: it is a non-profit worker

cooperative located in Montreal, Canada; it is a place where one can drop off
recyclable items; it is store where one can find a variety of used goods, hardware
and spare parts; and it is also a welding and repair shop!  We’re located in
the Hochelaga neighbourhood, and we’re soon opening a second location in
Pointe-Saint-Charles at Bâtiment 7, a collectively run building complex that
hosts many different workshops, projects, and co-ops.
J & L: What’s the history behind Recyborg?

F: It started with me scrapping metal, working from an old leaky basement. It

was an attempt to put together logistics with a truck to pick up the material,
recycling, and e-commerce - selling on the used market through websites
such as Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace. Then in early 2020, as a team of three
we formed a “société en nom collectif” [general partnership] and opened the
Recyborg shop with regular opening hours, along with the online store on our
website. We also have an Etsy shop now as an outlet for décor accessories.

The name “Recyborg” was inspired by sci-fi, and the whole DIY-metal-
electronics connection seemed to fit perfectly. Since we opened, it has been
going really well. We were able to stay open during the pandemic lockdowns
because we were classified as a hardware store. E-commerce really took off,
and new people who were already customers at our store joined the team.
Among them are an electromechanical expert and audio technician. We
already had two professionally trained welders on the team. It is important
for our recycling process that we cover a wide range of areas of expertise:
we need people who know what they’re doing for sorting the materials that
come in, for setting prices … people who can quickly tell apart items that are
easy to repair from those that are not, who can identify what’s a lost case that
we should not waste our time on. The more knowledge we have, the better.

In 2021, we officially became a non-profit cooperative. The coop form

reflects our collective values and how Recyborg had already been
running before formalizing this status. We’re organized around horizontal
principles and unanimous decision-making. The non-profit aspect
came with the field we’re working in. We didn’t want to give people the
impression like, give us all your stuff and we’ll make good money with it.
J & L: What are the materials you work with, and where do they come from?

F: Our inventory includes electricity and plumbing hardware, appliances

and appliance parts, audio and video equipment, electronics, bike parts,
tools, and arts and crafts materials. The items at our store are either
donated, found on the street, or collected through our pickup service at
the request of individuals or businesses who want to get rid of stuff that
they have stored in their garage, for example. Every object that comes
in is sorted according to the 3RV principle (Reduction, Reuse, Recycling
and Valorisation). Bulky items are mostly sold locally, while smaller parts
are also shipped to customers both within and outside Canada.

J & L: Who are the customers that come into your shop?

F: Mostly it’s foot traffic from the neighbourhood, people who are looking
for general hardware items. People from further away usually come for very
specific parts. Generally speaking, our customers are looking for cheap
stuff, for specific parts or items for a specific project, or they are motivated
by ecological values, like wanting to divert materials from landfills.

There’s a rising interest in reuse and repair, people want to avoid buying
things new. Many are struggling to pay their bills, so we provide a more
affordable alternative for sourcing things they need. Some customers are
artists and people who are looking through scraps for decoration – a great
outlet for items or parts that don’t actually work! We have a lot of those :)
J & L: Is there a specific infrastructural gap that Recyborg helps fill?

F: There’s a lack of accessible drop-off locations for recyclable items,

especially in an underserviced neighbourhood like Hochelaga. Recyborg
brings a drop-off option closer to the people - which is something, but still
far from enough! Discarded things that can’t go into regular household waste
usually have to be brought to one of the city’s Ecocentres, and there are only
few of them and they’re often far away. It is not feasible for people who don’t
have a car, or who are unable to go during their opening hours. So people
end up putting their stuff on the street and often get huge fines for not
disposing of it properly, even though they don’t really have an alternative.

For electronics specifically, we accept and process items on behalf

of the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA).

The second important aspect is that we provide affordable spare

parts that are usually expensive, or difficult or even impossible to
find because manufacturers don’t supply them. For instance, we strip
discarded home appliances and then reuse the harvested parts to
repair other machines and then sell them. So, in a way we are doing
DIY troubleshooting to expand the lifespan of machines for a little bit
longer. This is important because repair options for appliances are
declining; repair services are either completely absent or unaffordable.

We’re also starting a more formal repair service so that people can come
in with their own items they would like to repair. For now, we are limiting it
to a certain range of objects that can easily be fixed, like fans or toasters.
We are not going to tackle the items that are very difficult or even
impossible to repair – like printers, they were simply designed to fail.
J & L: How can people find or contact you?

F: We’re always looking for more people to get involved in our operations
and to build partnerships, so just send us a message if you’re interested!

https://recyborg.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Recyborg-106330014441259/

https://www.etsy.com/ca-fr/shop/RECYBORG
Salvaging is the act of looking for, picking up,
receiving, or harvesting objects and materials
that would otherwise go to waste.

Salvaging happens on the streets, in

backyards, garages, storage spaces,
basements, and other inconspicuous places.
It is often (but not always) informal,
improvised, and spontaneous.
It requires a certain attention, dedication, and
perseverance
perseverance,and andtime.
time.ItItisisless
lessconvenient
convenient
than going to a regular store or ordering
something online.

Salvaging is connected to practices of repair,

maintenance, and re-valuing.
It is not part of grand schemes, although it can
be institutionalized to some extent to figure as
part of broader strategies.

Salvaging is not (necessarily, only, always)

an act of necessity. It is (also, sometimes,
potentially) an act of pleasure. It is an attempt
to live well within/despite dominant extractive
conditions and the climate emergency.
Salvaging means preserving the embodied
carbon locked in an object, as well as the
labour that produced it.

Salvaging builds on cooperation and

collaboration. It does not exist completely
outside of capitalist logics but allows for
circumvention/subversion to a certain extent
- giving things away for free, or forming a
worker’s coop that makes salvaged goods
and services available in an accessible and
affordable way.

Salvaging as a mode of inquiry, a method

of sorts, means uncovering structures and
mechanisms of (non)circularity within
prevailing capitalist conditions and institutional
frameworks and policies – and to identify
and explore alternatives that circumvent,
challenge, or transform them.
In downtown Montreal, close to the Guy-Concordia
metro station, the Concordia University Centre
for Creative Reuse (CUCCR) runs a space called
“Used Material Depot”. Here, discarded materials
and items from all over campus are organized,
stored, and made available for free – from pens and
paper to maps to art works to kitchen supplies. It
is also a space that hosts workshops and making
sessions. Anyone can visit and go treasure hunting.

Concordia University
Center for Creative Reuse
1200 Rue Guy,
Montreal QC
H3H 2L3
Canada
janna & lee: How did CUCCR start?

Anna Timm-Bottos & Arrien Weeks: Anna used to work as a high school
arts teacher and saw first-hand how hard it was to keep the classroom well-
stocked with materials. As part of her MA, Anna looked at different models
of reuse initiatives where materials would be given away for free or on a pay-
what-you-can basis. While still writing her thesis, she submitted a proposal
to get a similar initiative off the ground here at Concordia. It was supposed
to be a pilot but has since become a well-established institution on campus.

J & L: What’s the structure behind CUCCR?

A and A: The two of us are paid staff members. We also have one work-study
student, an internship program with about six interns per year, and students
who are part of the university’s “Sustainability Ambassadors” program.
So there are different educational opportunities connected to CUCCR.

Generally, our goal is to encourage people to look at materials in

a different way, to spark a DIY upcycling and reuse culture. We
invite people to run workshops, to share skills and knowledge,
and organize events around certain materials or activities.
interview
J & L: What’s CUCCR’s relationship with the university?

A & A: CUCCR has been actively involved in the development of the

university’s zero-waste plan. We insisted on reduction and reuse principles
to be a big part of the conversation. Luckily the lines of communication
at the institution opened up and we were able to disrupt the autopilot
mode of discarding unwanted items straight in the dumpster out back.

We are now also involved in the conversation around purchasing

policies. For example, we would like to see the university only
buying from manufacturers that have a take-back program and
offer repair options and replacement parts. Nothing is set in stone
yet, but hopefully the institution will move in that direction.

J & L: Where does the material at the depot come from?

A & A: It comes from all over the university: from offices, studios, departments
as they transition into a new space, locker clean outs and student residences.
There is such an abundance of materials that universities accumulate; we
see this especially toward the end of semester. And the materials are very
diverse. When we started out, some people didn’t really believe that folks
would want to use the things we were collecting. But by putting them
all in one space and showcasing them, by celebrating their beauty and
making them free and easy to access, we saw stuff fly off the shelves!

We also pass on items to other community organizations or

schools. Clothing, for example, goes to Dans La Rue, Resilience
Montreal, or other shelters. Art supplies sometimes go to public
art hives. Metal scraps are sent to a specialized recycler.
J & L: What do people make with the materials they pick up from the depot?

A & A: All sorts of things – there are no limits really! Recent examples
are beeswax wraps and bags made from upcycled curtain fabric that
we had received from one of the residences. We are a non-academic
space so we encourage people to use materials from the depot for all
kinds of things, but obviously they can also use them for school.

J & L: Who are the people who pick up materials from the depot?

A & A: Most of them are fine arts students. But we are seeing an in-
creasing number of engineering and business students as well, who
get materials for building prototypes or conference supplies.

During the fall and winter, materials and supplies for coursework are the most
popular, along with apartment items. Over the summer, many community
members from outside the university come in. Things slow down a bit during
that period and people have time to work on projects, like building a desk.

It takes a lot of energy and time to source different kinds of materi-

als, so it’s great that we can offer so much variety. Sometimes peo-
ple come in with a list of items they are looking for, but they find
different ones here, get inspired and re-work their plans.

J & L: How do you keep track of how material goes in and out of the depot?

A & A: At check-out, we weigh the items and identify roughly what

materials they are made of, and that data goes into our statistics. That
way we can visualize the quantity and diversity of materials we divert
from the landfill, showcase what we’re doing, and convince people and
the institution that there’s a good case for reuse and reduction.

Anyone can take materials from the depot free of charge, but they have to be
a member. Subscription happens through a simple online form. When people
check out items, we ask how much they think they would have spent on the
selected materials had they bought them new. This is a subjective estimate
and doesn’t have to be an accurate reflection of store prices, of course.
Nonetheless, it is informative because we get an idea of what the community
is saving by using our depot. Together, we’ve saved hundreds of thousands
of dollars. And we learn to appreciate the value of certain things—during the
pandemic, we really learned to appreciate the value of wood, for example.
J & L: What’s one of the weirdest items you’ve ever received?

A & A: One time we had about a thousand small beach buckets

donated from an event. It was the sort of kitschy item that one
would assume people would only get one or two copies of for
their kids to use. But people ended up doing amazing things
with them, like creating a planter shelving unit or turning them
into an organizer for paint brushes. It was real repurposing and
transformation, and that’s what we’re trying to promote: find
something to do with these random things! Make something new!

Find out more about CUCCR:

http://www.concordia.ca/cuccr
https://www.facebook.com/CUCCR/
https://www.instagram.com/cuccr/
 Most people have a toaster, and
toasters often break. They are
HOW TO very easy to fix, and even though
SALVAGE its cheap to buy a new one,
you can save yours from being
APPLIANCES thrown away! The most common
& DEAD issue with toasters is that they
BATTERIES need to be cleaned. Because
they are both one of the most
mechanical, and one of the most
FIX YOUR TOASTER
First, we need to know likely to produce crumbs in your
how it works. The bread kitchen, most toasters can be
is placed in the carriage,
which is lowered into
fixed easily, and just need to be
the chassis using the taken apart careful and cleaned.
lever at the side of the
toaster. When the carriage
reaches the bottom, it
latches in position and a
switch is activated to start
the heating process. A
thermostat determines how
long electric current will be
sent from the power cord
to the heating elements.
To get your desired toast,
a thermostat is set with
a knob or lever. When
the desired temperature
is reached, a solenoid (a
spring loaded mechanism)
turns the current off,
releasing the latch and
allows the carriage to spring
up to its original position.
To fix your broken FIX YOUR FAN: Open up your fan and look at
where the blade connects to the bearing and
fan, first turn it on motor. Fan blades gather a tremendous amount
and see if it moves of dust and debris that then settles behind
them as the air gets pulled in. Its not unusual
at all, sputters, or for the bearing that the fan blade unit turns on
makes a sound. to become so clogged it won’t move! If you
can see dirt in the small gap, clean it using your
Unless the fan fingers and the side edge of a flat head screw
makes no noise driver. Then, plug the fan in and turn it on for
when you turn it just a moment to see if the fan blades will move.

on, the problem You can also spray lubricant into the connection
is almost always between the fan blade unit and the bearing.
Turn the blades and spray again, do this
that it needs to several times. Wait a few minutes, then plug
be cleaned. the fan in for a brief moment and test it.
SALVAGE BATTERIES: This circuit is called a
Joule Thief, and is a voltage booster that can be
used to squeeze power out of dead batteries.
It can increase the voltage of a power source
by converting a constant low voltage signal
into a series of quick pulses at a higher voltage.
You most commonly see this kind of circuit
used to power LEDs with a “dead” battery.

You'll need:
- A ferrite toroid core
- A few wires
- An NPN transistor 2N2222, 2N3904, or similar
- An Led
- A1k ohm resistor
- A used AA battery
We would like to thank the Low-
Research Methods
Carbon Research Methods Group
Group
Methods
for initiating the “DIY Methods
2022” conference,
zine makingforconference
which this
(what
zine was
a cool
originally
idea!),produced.
and for sup

Big thank you’s also go to François

Pedneault from Recyborg and
Anna Timm-Bottos & Arrien Weeks
from CUCCR for their inspiring
work and taking time to share it
with us!
This zine was researched and written on unceded
Indigenous lands in Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal). The
Kanien’kehà:ka Nation of the Haudenosaunee
Confederacy is recognized as the traditional
custodians of these lands and waters.

While territorial recognition is necessary, it is

inadequate without restitution and reparation. Learn
more about land acknowledgements in places like:

https://nativegov.org/news/beyond-land-
acknowledgment-guide/

https://native-land.ca/

https://www.artsmidwest.org/resources/ideas-hub/
going-beyond-land-acknowledgments

Proceeds from this zine excluding print & shipping

costs will be forwarded to Indigenous Climate
Action.

https://www.indigenousclimateaction.com/