Warehouse sells unwanted waste and castoffs

From a tub donated by Kayne West to logs from Marc Jacobs' last fashion show to rugs from a photo shoot at Victoria Secret's, the 18,000-square-foot Build It Green warehouse in Astoria holds more than meets first glance.
Though the non-profit does not intentionally seek out high-end items, they have acquired some prized pieces - 60 Andersen windows, a grand piano, and a stock of antique Heartwood Yellow Pine, which formerly served as a Broadway theater's floor.
&#8220We cover the spectrum,” said director Justin Green, pointing out thousands of doors and hundreds of kitchen cabinets that the warehouse sells for a fraction of their original cost. &#8220But you are not going to save the most materials from the landfill if you are just looking for high-end antiques.”
The price tag for a used kitchen cabinet set, which had originally cost about $15,000, is $1,500. Used dishwashers go for $35, and a five-gallon jug of paint goes for $5.
&#8220Sometimes building contractors who are working on a big job order too much paint,” Green said. &#8220Say they finish the job and have five gallons left over. What do they do with that paint? Now they have someplace to bring it.”
Since opening in March 2005, Build It Green, located at 3-17 26th Avenue, just a block away from the East River, has diverted nearly 400 tons of building materials from the landfill. Doors, cabinets, and paint are their best sellers, Green said, and there are currently 75 tons of building materials for sale.
The idea for the New York City store took root after the Community Environmental Council (CEC) in Long Island City took on 80 tons of building materials from 19 buildings that were deconstructed in midtown Manhattan.
&#8220We could either ship them [the materials] to other reuse centers, or start a store, so we started a store,” Green said, explaining that he had worked with the CEC in the past and signed on as the new director. &#8220New York City needed this service because there is so much waste generated in this city.”
Fashioning itself after several other reuse centers across the country, Build It Green started by finding a space to rent, which at market rate costs them nearly $100,000 annually, then began accepting materials - that otherwise would go in the dumpster. The group, consisting of two employees other than Justin Green, even picks up stuff valued at more than $1,500.
&#8220We really don't buy anything, just take donations,” Green said, explaining that contractors and other donors get a tax write-off for their contributions.
Once Build It Green begins making a profit, they plan to fund recycling programs and contribute to environmental education at Solar One, touted as the city's first solar-powered &#8220Green Energy, Arts, and Education Center.”
So far, those in the local community who know about the center have been supportive, Green said.
In addition, the warehouse has formed solid relationships with local TV and film studios, which scout the warehouse for props and set materials and donate their discarded materials after shooting wraps up. On Wednesday, December 6, Anthony &#8220Troc” Benitez and Carlos Espinoza picked up props for a new movie with songstress turned actress Eve.
Local businesses like the Hell's Gate Social and Fatty's have also found whimsical materials to decorate their digs, and several up-and-coming artists stock up on paint at the warehouse. Still, Green said that Build It Green has only had about 250 customers this year.
&#8220Ideally we would like to get more Queens people coming in,” he said.