Research: The Circular Timber Pilot From Salvage to Showcase
Researchers
LEAD INVESTIGATORS
Project Lead, Associate Professor Berto Pandolfo
School of Design Faculty of Design Architecture & Building University of Technology Sydney
Project Manager, Lead Researcher Angelique Milojevic
School of Design Faculty of Design Architecture & Building University of Technology Sydney
CO-INVESTIGATORS
Associate Professor Stefan Lie
School of Design Faculty of Design Architecture & Building University of Technology Sydney
Mr Roderick Walden
School of Design Faculty of Design Architecture & Building University of Technology Sydney
Mr Anton Nemme
School of Design Faculty of Design Architecture & Building University of Technology Sydney
Berto Pandolfo and Angelique Milojevic at the front of a residential property undergoing deconstruction in North Lismore.
Inside a Lismore house under deconstruction.
Premium hardwood timbers salvaged from the deconstructed homes.
Side drawers made with the salvaged timber.
Community garden seed shed made with the salvaged timber.
Wall hooks made with the salvaged timber.
Artist brushes made with the salvaged timber.
Side drawer made with the salvaged timber.
Australia faces increasing pressure to tackle sustainability issues, especially as many urban areas in NSW approach landfill capacity and advances towards a circular economy. Waste and resource recovery are central to this transition, driving efforts to minimise environmental impact and save resources. Guided by the National Waste Policy Action Plan 2024, the National Circular Economy Framework aims to achieve 80% resource recovery by 2030, underscoring the strategic importance of circular practices across industries.
The Northern Rivers Circular Timber Pilot confirms the research showing that deconstruction and timber reuse can play a supportive role in advancing Australia’s transition to a circular economy. By shifting the focus from waste disposal to resource recovery and reuse, especially around maximising material recovery, it significantly reduces landfill, unlocks economic value, and strengthens Circular Ecosystems, supporting the country’s sustainability goals.
This pilot project focused on salvaging timber from two deconstructed flood-damaged homes in Lismore. It involved research into global best practices, as well as identifying gaps and opportunities for salvaged timber through a design-led approach. Local timber makers, artists, carpenters and architects collaborated on repurposing the historically significant, high-quality timbers into prototypes, highlighting both the value of material recovery and reuse, as well as the region’s desire for innovative, sustainable solutions. Scaling up deconstruction efforts can significantly help Australia transition towards a circular economy.
Community Engagement: The project garnered strong local interest in timber reuse, drawing community members with a deep appreciation for the region’s premium hardwoods. The Pilot’s makers designed and produced prototypes that not only showcased material reuse but also demonstrated the knowledge and skills embedded in the region.
Environmental Impact: Salvaged timber from deconstruction serves as a sustainable alternative to virgin materials, significantly diverting landfill waste, decreasing carbon emissions, and encouraging sustainable industry practices.
Systemic Barriers and Opportunities: Regulatory frameworks and market conditions greatly impact the viability of dwelling deconstruction. Policy support for deconstruction, material storage infrastructure, along with a value assessment to determine full cost-benefit, would encourage adoption. Stakeholder networks and local business ecosystems also play a crucial role in making circular practices viable and sustainable.
Economic Opportunities: The Pilot uncovered hidden potential for economic growth and circular development by implementing the right systems and infrastructure, leading to cost savings on demolishing waste transport and disposal, green job creation, expanded markets for small businesses, and new income from selling salvaged materials and upcycling timber products.
Strategic Importance: The Circular Timber Pilot aligns with the National Waste Policy Framework, addressing waste priorities at the state and local levels. As demonstrated in the pilot, deconstruction presents new opportunities for recycling and reuse, reduces waste, and supports the waste hierarchy plan for efficient resource use, as outlined in the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001. The Policy also endorses Australia’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 on responsible consumption and production, strengthening the country's shift towards sustainability and circular economy principles.
The Problem Space
Australia’s construction and demolition (C&D) sector is a major contributor to landfill waste and carbon emissions, with limited infrastructure for material recovery and reuse. The C&D waste stream is projected to generate approximately 42 million tonnes of waste, equivalent to 1.51 tonnes per person, by 2030. Many urban areas in Australia are rapidly approaching landfill capacity. Reducing waste generation is vital to easing the pressure on these limited disposal sites. Disposing of timber in landfill creates multiple problems. When timber is sent to a landfill, much of its biogenic carbon is stored long-term, and as timber decomposes, it eventually releases its stored carbon into the atmosphere. Globally, waste landfilling is highlighted in the literature as having adverse effects on society, the environment, and the economy. Currently, there are no standard deconstruction guidelines; only demolition guidelines exist in the Australian Standard - The Demolition of Structures. As a result, many materials that could be salvaged, reused, or repurposed are often discarded and end up in landfill.
Following the 2022 floods in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, thousands of tonnes of flood-damaged materials were sent to landfills. Much of this could have been repurposed or recycled, but the urgent nature of post-disaster clean-up and the lack of a dedicated waste material recovery system made this unfeasible. Over 1,000 homes in Lismore were flagged as at risk after the disaster. The NSW Government launched the Resilient Homes Program (RHP) as a central part of the recovery efforts. The RHP provided homeowners in high-risk, flood-affected areas with the chance to sell their homes through a buyback scheme. The Circular Timber pilot concentrated on this scheme, involving the deconstruction of two purchased homes and salvaging their timbers.
Final Prototypes From Salvaged Timbers
Despite having other work and personal commitments, the makers remained dedicated, passionate, and engaged throughout the process. They all recognised and valued the importance of working with salvaged materials. The makers adeptly navigated the dynamic nature of the pilot project, managing ambiguity, changes, and occasional confusion while maintaining a focus on a successful outcome.
Conclusion
This pilot aimed to investigate the potential for a circular demolition approach through a design-led method. It evaluated the desirability and feasibility of deconstruction and reusing salvaged timber in the Northern Rivers. The research involved analysing international best practices, reviewing global case studies of timber reuse, identifying gaps, challenges, and opportunities, and creating prototypes as tangible proof of concept.
Through a combination of academic and desktop research, stakeholder workshops, community consultations, and hands-on collaboration with local timber makers, the pilot gained valuable insights into how circularity can be embedded into local practices. The development of proposed deconstruction guidelines and the creation of prototypes using salvaged timbers from two deconstructed properties in Lismore offer practical ways to reimagine waste as a valuable resource.
Key findings reveal that, although there is a highly engaged community, local businesses and keen interest among local timber makers in promoting circular practices, several systemic, policy, regulatory, and operational barriers still exist. Challenges identified include the lack of a value assessment framework, the absence of formal deconstruction guidelines, and limited infrastructure for material recovery.
Despite these hurdles, the research highlighted significant innovation potential, especially where local knowledge, community commitment to sustainability, and alignment with state and local Waste Policy Framework priorities converge, as reflected in the NSW Waste and Circular Infrastructure Plan. Deconstruction, material recovery, recycling, and reuse align with this framework and plan.
Future research could focus on overcoming these challenges and may also involve designing scalable business models and economic incentives that support circular waste material systems. Ultimately, promoting deconstruction and reuse locally is not only desirable, technically feasible, and sustainable, but also offers a compelling strategy to reduce environmental impact, benefit society, and potentially be economically viable, thereby expanding regionally rooted circular economies.
