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Building Supply Salvage Centers—Where a Bargain Lessens Your Carbon Footprint

April 5, 2007 By: Anna21 Comments

Everyone is talking about buying “green” or practicing the mantra, “recycle, reuse, and reduce.” Different organizations all over the country started to put all these sayings into practice by creating salvage and surplus building supply centers.  Typically, builders order fifteen percent more supplies for their jobs in case some glitch shows up in the building process.  Instead of throwing away good lumber, excess flooring, or kitchen cabinets, a builder or homeowner can bring them to their local salvage center.  Homeowner can even dispose of their older materials when remodeling.  Remember someone’s trash is someone else’s treasurer.

I decided to visit Build It Green!, a salvage and surplus building supply center in Queens, New York (“BIG!”) Since I am always looking for reusable materials for my home, I thought this would be a good road trip. I met with Justin Green, the programming director to survey the salvage center. (It’s just coincidence that the center shares the same name as Justin) Justin told me that BIG! was formed when the Durst organization wanted to environmentally dispose of its excess building materials when they built One Bryant Park and its 125 West 31st Street condo development.

New York City disposes of approximately 13,500 tons per day of non-fill and demolition materials. BIG! has been in existence for two year and in that time period, this small 17,500 square foot facility with 2 full and 2 part-time employees and trusty mouse catching Jack Russell terrier have sold an estimated 400 tons of building material.  As Justin stated, “It is equivalent to taking 150 automobiles off the road.”  Pretty impressive.

At the facility, there were yards of doors, Prego flooring, sinks, Jacuzzis, and enough kitchen cabinets that could fill up a couple of kitchens. In addition, there was recessed lighting, lumber, plywood, MDF, and two stand-up piano needing homes.  In addition, BIG! has the most beautiful ornate fireplace mantel with attached mirror for sale for $4000.  It is obvious it is worth so much more.  When I arrived even more kitchen cabinets were being delivered.

BIG!’s most impressive donation came from a family that bought a 2 family townhouse fully renovated. This family decided to turn the two- family townhouse into a one family home.  So, they donated all of the duplicate building materials to BIG!, which included a magnificent German made stainless steel kitchen retailing for $70,000.  It is sitting at BIG! still in its original wrapping. Built it Green sells their products at approximately fifty percent below retail.  Their goal is to lessening your carbon footprint on the Earth by reusing something that has already been made.  I love a bargain so this store is right up my alley.

I asked Justin what were his favorite materials that he received and he told me it was the lumber.  He believes that reusing materials that have already been manufactured is the ultimate “green” since no additional resources have to be expended (such as cutting down trees)  to create this material.

BIG!, like every not for profit, has its own wish list. They could use a truck instead of renting one, more full-time staff, and a larger facility so they can take more materials. If you can help in anyway whether to donate or buy, it is one more step towards conserving the Earth’s natural resources and reducing the impact on our landfills.

BIG! is just the tip of the iceberg.  All over the country there are salvage and surplus building supply centers just like BIG!   Each center is unique in its size and what it has to offer.  Construction Junction, a 65,000 square foot center in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania offers a multitude of building materials and salvage items.  Their website contains a catchy slogan, “You can reuse, we can help” reminding you of Home Depot’s saying with a recycling twist to it.  They provide deconstruction services, offer an old window restoration seminar, and give free building materials away to not for profit organizations including women’s shelters and senior homes. In addition, they provide low income families discounts to buy their building materials.

Maine Housing and Building Material Exchange is located in Gray, Maine. Its founding mission was based on helping low income families and the environment.  Eighteen years later, anyone can shop in one of their three stores but low income families receive discounts for building supplies.   If you need building supplies, searching for that treasure you have always wanted, or just need a place to donate your unwanted building supplies or materials, contact your local salvage center.  Either way, help do your part to “recycle, reuse, and reduce.”  Remember, we only have one Earth.

For resources to find a salvage center near you:

Northeastern Recycling Council, Inc:  Lots of good information on this website.  Also, I noticed Re-do and this website had different information.

Habitat for Humanity Restores

Building reuse This site contains both not for profit and for profit salvage centers in Canada and the United States.

 

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About Anna

Anna Hackman is the editor of Green Talk, and owner of The Naked Botanical and a avid (okay obsessed) gardener. She also loves video and podcasting and hosts Green Talk TV and Green Talk Radio. Her most important role is being a mother of four boys.

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Comments

  1. 3

    Kohler Sinks says

    March 4, 2008 at 10:02 am

    I’ve often wondered where all this trash goes that I throw into the trash. It’s amazing that there is even room for this stuff. Makes me want to do better. Thanks for the green education.

    Kohler Sinks’s last blog post..Kohler Sink – Gathering design on Alcott undercounter kitchen sink

    Reply
  2. 4

    Building Supplies says

    March 30, 2009 at 12:12 pm

    It is good to know about Build It Green!, a salvage and surplus building supply center. Indeed “buying green” or “recycle” or “reuse” are the buzzwords of the present day. 🙂

    Reply
  3. 5

    Bob Minks says

    February 26, 2010 at 12:44 pm

    I volunteer at the Decatur, ill HAHfH Restore. I do not see our restore listed on your web site. How do I get it listed? Also I tried to email and sent snail mail to the Bloomington, ill but their listed
    email address and street address is no longer valid. Please advise.
    How often are your listings updated? Thank you

    Reply
    • 6

      Green Talk says

      February 26, 2010 at 11:59 pm

      Bob, is your Habitat re-store listed on the Main Re-store website? I have linked the Habitat restore list to my site. Unfortunately, I can’t update the Restore list. Habitat has to do that. Go ahead and give your details here anyways. Anna

      Reply
  4. 7

    Womens Clothing says

    October 22, 2010 at 6:28 am

    It’s good that companies are moving towards using eco-friendly materials,but my reservation,can we completely go green.,,,,,I doubt it!!!

    Reply
    • 8

      Anna@Green Talk says

      October 22, 2010 at 12:58 pm

      Womens Clothing, where do you think it will be hard to go green? Anna

      Reply
  5. 9

    Flooring Arlington VA says

    December 22, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    I have to admit I’ve never heard of this concept before – what a brilliant idea. I’m looking forward to finding one of these supply salvage centers in the new neighborhood I’m moving to in California.

    Reply
  6. 10

    Ronnie says

    February 7, 2012 at 11:12 am

    Loved following you through the salvage warehouse, Anna!

    So funny that I published this today about Green Demolitions!
    http://www.econesting.com/2012.....he-rescue/

    Reply
    • 11

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 7, 2012 at 2:57 pm

      Ronnie, how did you like the “big hair” Talk about needing eco-product.. Love your article about how you found your new’ish stove. I will have to keep the Green Demolition in mind. Anna

      Reply
      • 12

        Ronnie says

        February 7, 2012 at 5:26 pm

        I enjoyed seeing you face to face (almost). Didn’t even notice the hair!

        Reply
        • 13

          Anna@Green Talk says

          February 7, 2012 at 7:48 pm

          I actually look different now. I look more like my picture on this post. (http://www.green-talk.com/2012.....-and-safe/) I giggle when I watch the video. I was so nervous when I did this video five years ago. Anna

          Reply
  7. 14

    Marla says

    January 9, 2014 at 6:56 pm

    I was not aware of this, but this great news even though its old news. It amazing what we can accomplish when just one person decides they want to make a difference. This is a great way to recycle, reuse and save money while helping our environment. Anna Thanks for sharing your old article and teaching me something new.

    Reply
    • 15

      Anna@Green Talk says

      January 9, 2014 at 10:00 pm

      Marla, this is one of my favorite posts although it is 7 years old! Anna

      Reply
  8. 16

    Elden Gatley says

    February 29, 2016 at 12:56 pm

    I agree that getting building materials from salvage centers are a great way to recycle. I think it encourages people to not only recycle their own materials, but to also use building materials which someone else recycled. I think there may be exceptions to this, though, because sometimes it’s nice to have an unused building material.

    Reply
  9. 17

    Hazel Owens says

    April 1, 2016 at 10:11 am

    I think that building supply salvage centers are fantastic. Like you said, there are often surplus supplies in the commercial and residential levels. However, having a place where companies and individuals can deposit their unused supplies both reduces waste and provides cheap building materials to other people. Thanks for the article!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Blue Sky Mining » Guest Blogger: Building Supply Salvage Centers—Where a Bargain Lessens Your Carbon Footprint says:
    April 30, 2007 at 9:06 am

    […] with me about yours, and others connecting with all of us to become more green." This post was originally published on April 5, […]

    Reply
  2. annahackman » Blog Archive » Guest Post: Building Supply Salvage Centers—Where a Bargain Lessens Your Carbon Footprint says:
    October 31, 2007 at 2:15 am

    […] to connect with others to help turn the Planet green, one conversation at a time. This post was originally published on April 5, […]

    Reply
  3. Guest Post: Building Supply Salvage Centers—Where a Bargain Lessens Your Carbon Footprint : annahackman - Green Options says:
    March 3, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    […] to connect with others to help turn the Planet green, one conversation at a time. This post was originally published on April 5, […]

    Reply
  4. Builder Dan Phillips’ Philosophy: One Man’s Trash Is Another’s Home | Green Talk™ says:
    December 2, 2009 at 3:28 am

    […] and half years after I started Green Talk.   My second post on the site in April, 2007 was about Build it Green!, a Queens, NY-based warehouse full of salvage building materials.  Many of the materials were […]

    Reply
  5. Have an Earth Day Staycation on Green Talk | Green Talk™ says:
    April 21, 2010 at 11:14 pm

    […] Building Supply Salvage Centers—Where a Bargain Lessens Your Carbon Footprint (In the video, Me with big Jersey hair.) […]

    Reply
  6. PlanetReuse Brokers Salvage Building Materials to help Build Green — Green Talk® says:
    December 13, 2011 at 1:58 am

    […] I started Green Talk, one of my first stories was about Build it Green NYC, a 17,000 square foot depository of salvaged and builder over-runs ranging from Kohler plumbing, […]

    Reply

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