Build it Green! New York Is Opening a Sawdust Mill in Astoria

Build It Green!NYC just launched BIG!Millworks, an urban sawmill program at BIG!’s Queens reuse center at 3-17 26th Avenue in Astoria. The folks at BIG! are now assembling a mill and plan to make products available in the wintertime. The mill will be used to reclaim and transform urban wood waste into useful green building products. BIG!Millworks will also employ and train workers from disadvantaged communities to work in the sawmill and woodshop. According to BIG!, “Each year in New York City an estimated 2,072,000,000 pounds of wood waste is generated by the city’s construction and demolition industry. Most of the wood waste is then landfilled or incinerated. BIG!Millworks will divert a portion of this wood and create locally made, high quality lumber products such as boards, wall paneling and flooring.” Products will be available for purchase at the Build It Green reuse centers in both Queens and Brooklyn. BIG! will also provide orders for large-scale construction projects. BIG! has teamed up with Tri-Lox Workshop to develop products, as well as design and build out the sawmill program. GMAP