Recycled Wood

What is recycled or reclaimed wood? Reclaimed or rediscovered wood comes from demolition projects, urban tree salvage (dead, fallen, or diseased trees), unproductive orchards, or landfills. Reclaimed woods are the soundest choices for protecting forests. While some woods contain nail holes, wormholes, and other signs of wear, others contain dense, tight grains, and are remarkably free of defects.

Is there such a thing as "certified" reclaimed or recycled wood?

Yes. The Forest Stewardship Council recently introduced new chain-of-custody requirements for certficate holders. The approval of the new standard was the culmination of three years of technical review, stakeholder consultation and pilot testing. At that time, FSC introduced clearer, more distinctive labels to communicate the different types of products available with an FSC label. • 100% FSC for products that originate entirely from an FSC-certified forest. • FSC Recycled for products with 100% post-consumer recycled material.

• FSC Mixed for products with material from FSC-certified forests, company controlled sources and/or post-consumer recycled material.

Rivanna's 100% post-consumer recycled wood products now carry the FSC label. We purchase post-consumer recycled wood only from vendors who have been pre-approved.  For a recycled wood supplier to be approved, the vendor must be able to demonstrate that the wood is indeed post-consumer; that is, that it has been used for its intended purpose and reached the end of its useful life for that purpose.  The standard recycled stock we purchase is salvaged industrial or barn wood “shorts” that have been denailed and have paint, worm holes, nail holes, and other signs of wear.  This stock is purchased by the pallet and then sorted for usability (a portion of it is generally too brittle or damaged to be reused).  Stock that cannot be used is recycled as mulch.