The American Wood Council (AWC) and Canadian Wood Council (CWC) have partnered with Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) to develop an online North American directory outlining reuse and recycling options for wood and wood products. The website can be found at: ReuseWood.org.

“For wood products, there has historically been a lack of awareness of the opportunities to recycle and reuse wood products, and thereby extend their useful life. We are aiming to change that,” said AWC President & CEO Robert Glowinski. “Our industry wants to do its part when it comes to the full life-cycle impact of our products. It’s our hope that this directory will help educate builders, designers and consumers on the many opportunities to salvage, recycle or reuse wood products, in turn reducing waste.”

“Various construction sector stakeholders are increasingly being called upon to balance functionality and cost objectives with reduced environmental impacts on the built environment.” explained CWC President Michael Giroux. “This online resource is one of the ways the wood industry is taking ownership in the areas of reuse and recycle – affirming the renewable qualities of wood and wood products, and assisting the design/construction communities in reaching their green objectives.”

Features of the website include:

  • The business directory is accessible via both map and list, with easy sorting capabilities according to target categories (location, services provided, etc).
  •  Individual listing pages show the contact information, location and available services for each business.
  •  The sustainable wood guide includes useful information and articles on the different wood products and the opportunities for wood reuse or recycling.

“The demand for reclaimed wood products has been steadily increasing as consumers recognize and value the look, feel, functionality and cost of reused wood in products such as flooring, furniture, structural timbers and more. The North American Wood Reuse and Recycling

Directory will connect demand and supply to ensure the continued growth of this reclaimed wood market, while simultaneously keeping thousands of tons of wood out of landfills,” said BMRA Executive Director Anne Nicklin.

Relevant businesses and organizations are invited to check or add their listing to the Reuse Wood business directory: www.ReuseWood.org.