Building Materials Resource Center

Your gleaming Sub-Zero has arrived; your glossy granite countertops are ready to be installed. Before you can enjoy them, though, you have to get rid of that old Frigidaire and beat-up Corian. Sure, it's tempting to call a junk truck, but the greener move is to donate still-usable appliances and materials to the BMRC, founded in 1993 to help divert millions of dollars of building materials from landfills. The center accepts a surprising variety of goods, from light fixtures to cabinet hardware, and sells them at minimal cost to low- and middle-income homeowners—meaning you can not only take pride in your own renovation, but also feel good about aiding someone else's "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" project (while getting a tax write-off in the process).