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Film Biz Recycling

Conceived by a Brooklyn mom in 2007, Film Biz Recycling (FBR) was started as a means to combat the waste prevalent in the NY film industry. The Long Island City–based not-for-profit redirects props, dressing and building materials left over at the end of many local movie, tv show or commercial shoots. Instead of ending up with tons of useful items in a dumpster after the shoot is over, the production companies and studios pass the stuff to FBR and the goods get donated to one of many charities  (such as Hour Children, Baby Buggy, Blissful Bedrooms , or Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition) or re-use centers. A small percentage of the items – those that can be easily carried up to FBR’s second-floor store – are sold or rented, both to the industry and to normal people (that’s you, presumably).

The store is full (really full) of beautiful things – furniture, antique linens, kitchen and house wares and art supplies.  Need a set of glasses or a pillow or a lamp for your apartment? A planter for your mother’s summer house? FBR might have what you are seeking. The prices are low and almost everything is under $100, usually WAY under $100. Can I guarantee that you will find an upholstered chair used by one of the Law & Order CI detectives? No, but the show is a frequent donor (so is Rescue Me), so its possible!

The rentals are my favorite and I think FBR’s founder, Eva Radke is a genius. For (a negotiable) $45, you can rent the Birthday Box, the Valentine’s Day box, the Gay Pride Box, the Easter Box or the Christmas Box – inside:  seasonal decorations, paper products, and perhaps, a feather boa or two. Use what you need and return the box (empty or refilled with left over balloons/napkins/noisemakers that you bought and don’t have room to keep) after your event. Hankering to have a fondue party? Rent some of FBR’s fondue pots for the weekend. Need platters and other serving items for a dinner you’re hosting but don’t want to own them? Essentially, FBR can rent you all of the stuff your friends with houses store on a shelf in their basements.

On my last visit, I talked myself out of a milk jug but I ended up with two piggy banks for the kids – an owl and a duck, which are cheap, useful and very cute. (Not to mention a better use for the $5 I otherwise might have spent on a coffee.) You can check out FBR’s site to get an idea of the kinds of things they have in stock, though new items arrive daily. Film Biz Recycling is open 7 days a week and is at 43-26 12th Street 2nd Floor LIC 11101. The store is up one flight of stairs so be ready to schlep the stroller.

The milk jug I almost bought (but talked myself out of)

Love these butterfly trays

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Once employed in tv production, Jill Austin now uses those management skills to boss around her husband, son, daughter and dog, with minimal success. When she’s not turning daily life into a production, Jill is a free-lance writer, a middle-of-the-pack triathlete and an optimist.

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