What’s stopping us from using recycled wood in buildings?

The construction industry is a gigantic source of trash. In the European Union, for example, it accounts for 35% of total waste generation and half of all materials extracted.

One way to reduce that refuse is by recycling wood.

Almost everybody is familiar with recycling paper, aluminum, and glass, but far fewer people are aware that wood from buildings can also be salvaged and repurposed – just 44% of American adults according to a US Forest Service survey. A recent German study showed that more than half of the wood waste from demolished buildings could be reused directly or recycled into other materials, compared with just 20 percent in the country today. And this wood is currently recycled into particle board. The rest is typically burned in waste-to-energy plants.

Roof trusses, ceiling beams, and prefabricated elements are the most reusable. And they can be used in new buildings. While there’s a perception that old wood is decrepit and run down, in fact it is often stronger and more durable than new wood.

What’s currently impeding the use of recycled wood in the construction industry? Economics and perception are the greatest factors. Perception can be changed relatively easily with information and incentives. Altering the economics is trickier, necessitating some innovation. For example, chemical and processing advances to remove metallic contaminants and preservatives in used wood would make it more suitable for reuse. Architects must also design structures with deconstruction, rather than demolition, in mind. This might mean using higher-quality wood to start with, utilizing metal rather than chemical fasteners, employing more standardized components, and writing up a detailed disassembly plan.

Recycling wood is a key aspect of a broader concept called “urban mining”. Our modern built environments are treasure troves of useful materials – the challenge is economically extracting and repurposing them. Surmounting this obstacle would take us closer to a circular economy, minimizing humanity’s impact on Earth and leaving more room for future generations to flourish.