that was nelson molina's job, for more than three decades. all of that time, what people were throwing out this is just beautiful. look at the brush strokes. the hair. he was take in. welcome to the sprawling hidden garbage gallery, filling the entire second floor of a very busy sanitation department depot. did you ever feel like, okay, there is enough. i dent neon't need to collect a more. reached max capacity. or is there always more room? >> always room. paintings. plates. dolls. you name it, row, after row, all sorted and stored by a ref use collector, turned curator. how many pieces do you think there are? >> thuz sands. >> reporter: for the 65-year-old, molina who retired in 2015, the passion for preservation began a long time ago. you have been collecting since you were 9 years old. >> yes, go out two weeks before christmas. pick through the garbage. get all the old toys, everybody was throwing them out. i would bring all this home. like santa claus to my brothers and sisters. this is the strand hotel. >> reporter: a few of his favorit