Building it Better

As a set designer in the film and photo industry I am concerned with the amount of waste generated in these industries.  I applaud the efforts of the  BIG!NYC, otherwise known as “Build It Green-NYC” a not-for-profit organization that  salvages materials from a variety of buildings about to be demolished or remodeled in New York City.  They also receive donations of materials  donated by building suppliers and contractors interested in protecting the environment and reducing their waste.  Many materials are donated by individuals or small companies such as my own.

The program, begun in 2005, has become so successful that a new warehouse is slated to open in November 2011.

All proceeds help support CEC’s environmental initiatives around the city, including the Western Queens Compost Initiative,  BIG!Blooms scaffolding program for raised garden beds at community gardens,  BIG!NYC Gives Back donation program for non-profits and community groups, and many more. Previous programs have included NYC Cool Roofs, Film Biz Recycling, and education programs at Solar 1. Solar 1 provides education programs in local schools, covering topics such as renewable energy and the East River ecosystem. They also host environmental lectures, and arts events throughout the year.

If you’re in NYC and in the mood to make some changes in your home, you can either donate items or explore the warehouse for some great finds for good causes.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 21st, 2011 at 8:00 am. It is filed under New York City, Sustainability. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.