The University of New Brunswick

Purpose

This Project aims to address the challenge of reusing wood-based Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste in Canada, particularly dimension lumber, which constitutes about one-third of C&D waste. Recycling and reusing this recovered lumber could significantly reduce waste management costs and carbon emissions from wood decay in landfills, supporting Canada's carbon reduction goals. However, the absence of design specifications for reclaimed wood, which current guidelines do not address, remains a barrier to its reuse in construction. This Project aims to address this gap by generating the necessary technical data and standards for using recovered lumber in building construction. The collaborative effort involves the University of Alberta, the University of New Brunswick, and the National Research Council, alongside partners from the industry, including the National Lumber Grades Authority, Canadian Wood Council, and FPInnovations, who will provide guidance and technical expertise for this initiative.