In our western communities, with their rich histories, infrastructure and expertise in timber production, we believe that we can breathe new economic life by bringing sustainable and responsible practices in the form of lumber reclamation. Our innovative approach will help to reduce the drawdown of current timber stocks and reduce carbon emissions, while meeting the demand for building material as the US economic recovery accelerates. A key element to the Renera vision is the salvage lumber warehouse (SLW). The SLW can provide a critical new link in the wood recycling chain. Combined with progressive waste management policies, the SLW can bring a continuous supply of localized reclaimed wood material to fuel development, urban renewal and economic growth, while reducing the environmental impact that usually accompanies these changes. LA County now has the opportunity to lead the nation in green building and progressive waste recycling programs. Clean wood, salvaged from old buildings or scrap from new construction projects can now be processed and made available for building projects, instead of ending up in landfills or used as fuel in local power plants. The regional demand for clean wood is high, and it has a higher value when utilized in a form closer to its form of last use, vs. the one time benefit of burning it for fuel. Up until now there have been no mechanisms or facilities in place for efficiently collecting, processing, and distributing salvaged wood materials in California. Renera, Inc. has stepped forward to fill that role through the SLW.

Keywords: Remanufacturing, salvaged wood, deconstruction, circular economy, green building