A warehouse in Queens is turning what some people may think as trash into the perfect find, and saving the environment all at the same time. NY1’s Cheryl Wills filed this report.

John Pawlak and his wife Patricia are saving some green on their purchase in more ways than one.

“I'd rather come here than go to the mall," Patricia says.

“Here” is "Build It Green!" in Astoria, Queens. It's a non-profit environmentally-conscious retail outlet founded by the organization Community Environmental Center, or CEC.

“We started a year ago because there is a real problem in New York City with the amount of waste being generated, and the construction demolition industry makes up about half the waste generated in New York City every day,” says Build It Green! Program Director Justin Green. “Some 13,500 tons of material, building material, is generated, and a lot of that is reusable building material, like that cabinets and the doors, and previous to our being open, there wasn't a place where the material could come."

Green says those materials are welcome at the warehouse. Its doors are open to anyone who wants to donate items both new and old. Green adds here it's all about reusing and keeping useful materials out of a landfill.

What can you find?

“We have everything from doors, to cabinets, to appliances, claw-foot tubs, surplus Anderson windows, $5 gallons of miss-tinted paint from hardware stores, picture frame trim, we just brought in a stage of hardwood yellow pine from a Broadway stage,” Green says.

The products have been removed from buildings to be demolished. They've been donated by building suppliers and contractors. You can also find props and materials used in film, television, and theater productions. There are plenty of unique finds to add to your home or your next production.

Green says the prices are affordable, at half or below a normal retail price. And the proceeds help support a good cause.

"Any profits we make go to fund environmental education at Solar One Education Center on the East River in Manhattan," Green says.

If you would like more information about Build It Green!, you can call (718) 777-0132 or visit www.bignyc.org.

- Cheryl Wills