City advocates for code change for sustainability

In an effort to remove barriers for the use of salvaged lumber in residential construction and to champion sustainability, the City of Eugene's Waste Prevention program is advocating for changes to national residential building codes. Modeled after Oregon residential building code, this initiative seeks to allow salvage wood to be used in residential structures nationwide, which can increase demand and help bolster end-market development for reused lumber. End market development is an important step towards developing a more circular economy, where waste is minimized and the use of existing resources is maximized through strategies such as re-using, re-manufacturing and recycling.

"Promoting the safe reuse of salvaged lumber not only supports circular economy principles, it contributes to the overall fiscal responsibility and sustainability of the residential construction sector," says City of Eugene Waste Prevention Analyst Garian Cika, the code proposal applicant.

This effort aims to broaden the utilization of salvage wood across the industry, paving the way for a more sustainable approach to building, and the cornerstone of this initiative is an extensive, strategic collaboration of public and private sectors across the United States. The City of Eugene is partnering with a coalition of stakeholders committed to advancing sustainable building practices, including the Oregon Building Officials Association, the American Wood Council, the American Institute of Architects, Urban Machine, and others.

Together, these multidisciplinary allies are working towards the goal of presenting a proposal to the International Building Code Committee (ICC) by 2025.

Additionally, this work aligns with the City of Eugene's strategic goals to advance climate action and community resiliency within the City's 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.

For more City updates visit our  City Newsroom webpage.