A Calgary family has started a business that helps save the environment while saving do-it-yourself home renovators money.

Ray Banville, his wife Leslie and their son Ryan are preparing to open the doors to Happy Harry's Used Building Materials -- a store designed to keep used, but still useful, building materials from ending up in a landfill.

"I think it's an idea that's going to be around for a long time," says Banville at the store's Macleod Trail location.

Pointing around the warehouse to piles of sinks, tubs, doors and cabinets -- most only slightly worn -- he says, "90 per cent of this stuff was headed for a landfill. But we know there's someone out there who wants it."

Banville says much of the used material comes from contractors who have completed renovations and don't have a need for used building materials. Normally the items would be hauled to a landfill, at a cost to the contractor for time spent doing the hauling along with landfill charges -- not to mention the environmental cost.

Instead, contractors can now unload their material in the city and pick up a few dollars, he says.

He added that many individuals also have building supplies lying around their yard and don't want to spend the time and effort to try and sell the items. Now they can phone Happy Harry's to see if the material can earn them a few dollars and less hassle.

On the other side of the equation, Banville said that items can then be offered for sale at very reasonable prices.

Pointing to a full-size white tub prices at $50, he said that one purchased at a building supply store would cost $170. "Sure this one has a few nicks," he says. "But it's a tub. And we're going to be doing business the old way; if you think $50 is too much, then make us an offer."

Copyright 2006 Happy Harry's Used Building Materials. All rights reserved

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