Sustainable Planet Today

We all know that wood comes from trees. Those trees play an important role in sustaining our planet. Trees, like all plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are also great for providing shade to humans, livestock, and other animals. So, it makes sense that recycling wood will cut down on the number of trees harvested and contribute to a cleaner environment. Sure, there are timber companies that plant as many trees as they cut down for lumber but, they also use a great deal of resources in the form of electricity and fuel to produce the dimensional boards we purchase.

What are some of the ways we can recycle wood? One of the most historic sources of old lumber comes from barns. Barnwood has become quite expensive to purchase on the secondary market. This is mainly due to its weathered look and durability. Barnwood has been recycled into products ranging from clocks to birdhouses. Barnwood is a finite resource as many new farm structures are made from metals these days.

Just as recycling barnwood involves the dismantling of a building, older homes are being torn down daily across the planet. This practice is usually quick and wasteful as the materials are typically trucked to a landfill for disposal. Instead, many great pieces of usable lumber can be “harvested” from home demolitions. All it takes is for a builder to realize the potential benefits of this practice. Lumber can be sorted and sold to other builders and homeowners through established networks.

A final type of lumber recycling involves used pallets. Each day thousands of wood pallets are used to transport goods all over the world. Pallets make simple work of moving hundreds of pounds at one time when used in conjunction with a forklift. As you might expect, these pallets often break and are deemed unfit. Thus, the owner has two options. First, the pallets can be discarded (usually in a landfill). The second option is to recycle the lumber either by giving or selling them to a recycler or by doing it themselves.

If you are interested in recycling pallets, check around at warehouses or other businesses. They will often give them to you. Dismantling a pallet is simple. You need a hammer and crowbar. Wedge the crowbar under one end of a board on either side of the pallet. Then, hammer the crowbar to loosen the board. Move to the other side or middle and do the same. With a little persuasion you can break a board free from the structure. Turn the board over, hammer out the nails, and you have a usable piece of lumber. These boards can then be used as they are in your project or cut to the length you need.

There is one caveat about using pallet lumber. Pallets are not treated and the wood must either be used in an interior setting or be painted or stained to be used outdoors.

There are many ways to make use of recycled wood. And, there are many reasons why we should adopt this practice. Bottom line, it simply makes good sense for the environment.

Do you have a specific use for recycled wood that you would like to share? Please feel free to leave a comment below and share your experience with others.