Seven Generations for Wood
Open accessAbstract
While there is much interest from both the construction industry and government to develop new pathways for salvaging and recycling wood products there has not been significant movement in imple-menting large scale wood recycling initiatives. Despite having one of the strictest recycling programs in the country, the city of Vancouver still a significant construction and demolition (C&D) waste problem. The Zero Waste Policies from Metro Vancouver Municipalities has allowed 78% (1.3 million tonnes) of all waste streams to be diverted from regional landfills, but wood C&D waste (31% of all C&D waste) still largely ends up in the landfill.1,2 Given that about 57% of new buildings in Vancouver are light-wood type buildings and the Vancouver Landfill is slated to be decommissioned in 2037, the city needs a strategy to divert these large volumes of wood from being landfilled.3 This proj-ect presents a method to recycle salvaged wood from deconstructed light-wood buildings and use those materials in new deconstructa-ble assemblies. Common wood waste such as dimensional lumber, plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), laminated strand lumber (LSL),and laminated veneer lumber(LVL) can be recycled into new wood products including finger-jointed lumber, OSB, OSB/LSL or Plywood/LVL crosslam tiles, and wood fibre insulation. Typical light- wood frame construction can then be altered to incorporate these recycled materials and to facilitate deconstruction and further reuse. This project proposes that with proper recycling infrastructure and construction practices the value of wood extracted from the urban environment can be maintained across multiple generations of build-ings creating a true circular economy of wood materials.
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
This design paper proposes a circular-economy system for salvaging construction and demolition wood in Vancouver and recycling it into finger-jointed lumber, OSB/LSL, crosslam tiles, and wood fibre insulation. It also presents a deconstructable light-wood wall prototype using those recycled products, reporting a mock-up thermal performance of R-22.3.
Key findings
- Metro Vancouver’s Zero Waste policies divert 78% (1.3 million tonnes) of waste streams from regional landfills, but wood C&D waste—31% of all C&D waste—still largely ends up in landfill; about 57% of new Vancouver buildings are light-wood type, and the Vancouver Landfill is slated for decommissioning in 2037.
- The project identifies recycling pathways for dimensional lumber, plywood, OSB, LSL, and LVL into finger-jointed lumber, strand-based engineered wood, crosslam tiles, and wood fibre insulation; recycled finger-jointed lumber cannot be used structurally under current code restrictions, though Washington and Oregon allow structural reuse of salvaged wood at an assumed No. 2 rating.
- A deconstructable light-wood wall assembly swaps new materials for recycled products, uses screws and double-headed nails, omits adhesives or plastic films, and achieves R-22.3 in the mock-up, on par with City of Vancouver recommendations.
- Vancouver permit data for 2017–2023 show 34,677 total issued permits, 24,699 dwelling-type permits (71% of all permits), and six dwelling categories making up 95% of dwelling permits; an average 130 sqm Vancouver home contains about 30 tons of wood material, with average annual wood input of 34,000 tons and output of 21,000 tons.
Methods
- Design-based and infrastructure-oriented project: proposes a theoretical model for recycling C&D wood waste into new wood products and adapts typical light-wood frame construction into a fully deconstructable wall system, including a built mock-up.
- Uses Vancouver issued building permit data from 2017–2023 and Metro Vancouver recycling calculator estimates for wood mass, alongside references to existing circular-economy actors such as Unbuilders and Can-do!.
- Analysis is primarily qualitative and illustrative, combining material-process proposals with a prototype thermal performance rating; no formal statistical modeling is described.
Limitations
- Stated in the paper: crosslam recycling is “more experimental,” its industrial line is “more illustrative than practical” and would need alteration for scalability; OSB/LSL recycling has not been done with recycled wood and the strand-making machine would need adaptation; recycled finger-jointed lumber cannot be used in structural applications due to code restrictions.
- Evident from the text: the paper reports only one mock-up thermal rating (R-22.3) and no full-scale construction, cost, lifecycle, or implementation results; the recycling system remains a theoretical model and the figures are largely illustrative.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
0 of 11 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Findingown data§ Seven Generations for Wood
Average annual wood output is 21,000 tons.
“Average Annual Wood Output = 21, 000 tons”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data§ Seven Generations for Wood
Total issued permits for 2017-2023 was 34,677.
“Total # Issued Permits 2017-2023: 34,677”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data§ Seven Generations for Wood
The wall system as built in the mock-up (Figure 4) has a thermal performance of R-22.3.
“This system, as built in the mock up (Figure 4), has a thermal performance of R-22.3”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data§ Seven Generations for Wood
Total issued permits for dwelling-type buildings was 24,699.
“Total # Issued Permits for Dwelling-type buildings= 24,699”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingnone given§ Seven Generations for Wood
The 6 specific use categories make up 95% of dwelling permits.
“The 6 specific use categories make up 95% of Dwelling permits”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
- Findingown data§ Seven Generations for Wood
Dwellings make up 71% of all issued permits.
“Dwellings Make up 71% of all issued permits”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingnone given§ Seven Generations for Wood
Average annual wood input is 34,000 tons.
“Average Annual Wood Input = 34, 000 tons”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation§ Seven Generations for Wood
About 57% of new buildings in Vancouver are light-wood type buildings.
“about 57% of new buildings in Vancouver are light-wood type buildings”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [3]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Premisecitation§ Seven Generations for Wood
The Vancouver Landfill is slated to be decommissioned in 2037.
“the Vancouver Landfill is slated to be decommissioned in 2037”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [3]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Premisecitation§ Seven Generations for Wood
Washington and Oregon have adapted their code to allow structural reuse of salvaged wood at an assumed no. 2 rating.
“the states of Washington and Oregon in the US have adapted their code to allow structural reuse of salvaged wood at an assumed no. 2 rating”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [4]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites [5]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Interpretationcitation§ Seven Generations for Wood
Vancouver still has a significant construction and demolition waste problem despite having one of the strictest recycling programs in the country.
“the city of Vancouver still a significant construction and demolition (C&D) waste problem.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ Seven Generations for Wood
These recycled products can all be combined in a light-wood construction system that is fully deconstructable.
“These products can all be combined in a light-wood construction system that is fully deconstructable.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationnone given§ Seven Generations for Wood
The proposed wall system omits adhesives or plastic films that would interfere with recycling wall components.
“The wall system omits any adhesives or plastic films that would get in the way of recycling the wall components”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation§ Seven Generations for Wood
Can-do! processes waste wood into finger-jointed non-structural lumber.
“Can-do! who process waste wood into finger-jointed non-structural lumber.8 9”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [9]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Interpretationcitation§ Seven Generations for Wood
The R-22.3 thermal performance of the mock-up is on par with City of Vancouver recommendations.
“which is on par with City of Vancouver recommendations.7”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [7]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Premisecitation§ Seven Generations for Wood
Average mass of wood available in a standard Vancouver dwelling (130 sqm) is 30 tons.
“Average mass of wood available in a standard dwelling based on Vancouver's average home size 130 sqm=30 tons of wood material (weight taken from Metro Vancouver recycling calculator)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Metro Vancouver recycling calculator
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 11
- May combine two claims. 6
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Interpretationreasoning§ Seven Generations for WoodThe strand making machine for OSB/LSL recycling would need to be adapted to use small pieces of dimensional lumber rather than whole logs.
“the strand making machine would need to be adapted to use small pieces of dimensional lumber rather than whole logs.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationreasoning§ Seven Generations for WoodTypical lightwood frame construction can be altered to incorporate recycled materials and to facilitate deconstruction and further reuse.
“Typical lightwood frame construction can then be altered to incorporate these recycled materials and to facilitate deconstruction and further reuse.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone given§ Seven Generations for WoodThe OSB/LSL recycling process borrows from existing OSB and LSL production technology but has not been done with recycled wood.
“This process borrows from existing OSB and LSL production technology, but it has not been done with recycled wood”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Premisecitation§ Seven Generations for WoodMetro Vancouver's Zero Waste Policies have diverted 78% (1.3 million tonnes) of all waste streams from regional landfills, but wood C&D waste (31% of all C&D waste) still largely ends up in the landfill.
“The Zero Waste Policies from Metro Vancouver Municipalities has allowed 78% (1.3 million tonnes) of all waste streams to be diverted from regional landfills, but wood C&D waste (31% of all C&D waste) still largely ends up in the landfill.1,2”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [1]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites [2]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
Interpretationcitation§ Seven Generations for WoodThe industrial line pictured in Figure 5 for crosslam recycling is more illustrative than practical and would need to be altered for scalability.
“the industrial line pictured in Figure .5 is more illustrative than practical and would need to be altered for scalability.6”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [6]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ Seven Generations for WoodCommon wood waste such as dimensional lumber, plywood, OSB, LSL, and LVL can be recycled into new wood products including finger-jointed lumber, OSB, OSB/LSL or Plywood/LVL crosslam tiles, and wood fibre insulation.
“Common wood waste such as dimensional lumber, plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), laminated strand lumber (LSL),and laminated veneer lumber(LVL) can be recycled into new wood products including finger-jointed lumber, OSB, OSB/LSL or Plywood/LVL crosslam tiles, and wood fibre insulation.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: Finger-jointing short pieces of lumber produces wood that is even stronger and straighter than regular dimensional lumber.
- Rests on an assumption: The resulting OSB can be used for shear walls or subflooring, and LSL can be used for structural beams.
- Rests on an assumption: Crosslam recycling can produce tiles from engineered wood products such as plywood, OSB, LVL, and LSL that can be used for exterior cladding or interior finishes.
- Rests on an assumption: The rigid wood fibre insulation board performs similarly to rockwool and is waterproof, so it can be used as exterior insulation.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Interpretationreasoning§ Seven Generations for WoodThe wood fibre insulation manufacturing process already exists for new materials but shows promise in being able to adapt to the use of salvaged materials, including engineered wood, because it can use very poor-quality wood as feedstock.
“This manufacturing process already exists for new materials but shows promise in being able to adapt to the use of salvaged materials-including engineered wood-as it has the benefit of being able to use very poor-quality wood as feedstock.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Interpretationreasoning§ Seven Generations for WoodWith proper recycling infrastructure and construction practices, the value of wood extracted from the urban environment can be maintained across multiple generations of buildings, creating a true circular economy of wood materials.
“with proper recycling infrastructure and construction practices the value of wood extracted from the urban environment can be maintained across multiple generations of buildings creating a true circular economy of wood materials.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ Seven Generations for WoodWith slight adjustments, the wall system can easily achieve much higher thermal ratings.
“And with slight adjustments it can easily achieve much higher ratings.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ Seven Generations for WoodThe proposed light-wood construction system is adapted from typical construction practices so that this style of building could be easily integrated into Vancouver's construction industry.
“The system is adapted from typical construction practices so that this style of building could be easily integrated into Vancouver's construction industry.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation§ Seven Generations for WoodUnbuilders provides deconstruction and salvage services for pre-1950s buildings.
“Unbuilders who provide deconstruction and salvage services for pre-1950s buildings”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [8]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone given§ Seven Generations for WoodIn the proposed wall system, the OSB sheathing acts as a vapour permeable barrier and the exterior insulation is a complete air and weather resistant barrier, making the whole system airtight but breathable to vapour.
“the OSB sheathing acts as a vapour permeable barrier and the exterior insulation is a complete air and weather resistant barrier making the whole system airtight but breathable to vapour.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The rigid wood fibre insulation board performs similarly to rockwool and is waterproof, so it can be used as exterior insulation.
- Rests on an assumption: When properly installed, the tongue-and-groove wood fibre insulation boards act as an air and weather resistant barrier.
The paper relies on this without support.
There has not been significant movement in implementing large scale wood recycling initiatives despite interest from industry and government.
“there has not been significant movement in implementing large scale wood recycling initiatives”
The paper relies on this without support.
Finger-jointing short pieces of lumber produces wood that is even stronger and straighter than regular dimensional lumber.
“Finger-jointing short pieces of lumber produces wood that is even stronger and straighter than regular dimensional lumber.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Finger-jointed recycled lumber can be used in any kind of light-wood framing application and can be made in any standard size, provided there is sufficiently wide feedstock.
“This wood can be used any kind of light-wood framing application and it can be made in any standard size, providing there is sufficiently wide feedstock.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Due to code restrictions, recycled lumber cannot be used in any structural applications.
“Due to code restrictions, this kind of recycled lumber cannot be used in any structural applications”
The paper relies on this without support.
The resulting OSB can be used for shear walls or subflooring, and LSL can be used for structural beams.
“The resulting OSB can be used for things like shear walls or subflooring, and LSL can be used for structural beams.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Crosslam recycling can produce tiles from engineered wood products such as plywood, OSB, LVL, and LSL that can be used for exterior cladding or interior finishes.
“Crosslam recycling is a more experimental and is a method of recycling engineered wood products such as Plywood, OSB, LVL, and LSL into tiles that can be used for exterior cladding or interior finishes.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The rigid wood fibre insulation board performs similarly to rockwool and is waterproof, so it can be used as exterior insulation.
“The rigid insulation board performs similarly to rockwool and is waterproof so it can be used as exterior insulation.”
The paper relies on this without support.
When properly installed, the tongue-and-groove wood fibre insulation boards act as an air and weather resistant barrier.
“The boards are milled with tongue and groove profiles meaning that when properly installed the wood fibre insulation acts as an air and weather resistant barrier.”
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.
Permit-count date ranges differ
MinorThe text labels the issued-permit total as covering 2017-2023, while the caption for the dwelling-type permit figure gives 2017-2022. The paper does not make clear whether these permit figures use different periods.
“Total # Issued Permits 2017-2023: 34,677”
“Figure 2. Number of issued Building permits for dwelling-type buidlings in Vancouver 2017-2022.Author.”
- Authors
- University of British Columbia, Meyboom, A., Nielson-Roine, K., & University of British Columbia
- ORCID
- Meyboom, Annalisa
- Venue
- 112th ACSA Annual Meeting Proceedings, Disruptors on the Edge
- Publisher
- ACSA Press
- Published
- 2024
- Pages
- 62-67
- OpenAlex
- W4396817342
- Semantic Scholar
- 0d45df393ef23bf21b6f79a4f520fb8fa0a99978
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- dx.doi.org
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Recycled Aggregate Concrete Performance
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Sustainable Design and Development
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Sustainable Building Design and Assessment
- Keywords
- wood recycling, construction and demolition waste, deconstruction, light-frame wood buildings, circular economy, wood fiber insulation, oriented strand board, laminated strand lumber, plywood, Vancouver, landfill diversion, zero waste policy
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