In the realm of recycling, throwing Coke cans and newspapers in that trusty blue bin is like sparing Mother Earth a paper cut. But making sure that demolition debris gets into the recycling stream is akin to protecting the planet from a punch in the gut. Sure, every little bit counts, but Habitat for Humanity's ReStore has done some heavy lifting, diverting 20 million pounds of big-ticket residential trash from area landfills since it opened in 2000. To raise money to build new homes for families in need, ReStore helps salvage usable items such as doors and windows from houses facing the wrecking ball and then sells those pieces back to the public at discounted prices. For the past eight years, Kansas Citians have trekked to the East Bottoms location to pick up lighting fixtures, cabinet sets and even kitchen appliances for home remodeling or new construction projects. But now there's a new game in town. Last year, the Heartland Chapter in Kansas City, Kansas, opened its own ReStore. This massive warehouse has all the same goodies as the Show-Me location but also includes some sweet vintage furniture. And because the place is new to the recycling scene, its wares are less picked over than its neighbor to the east.
