Urban forests in the metropolitan Washington region produce a great quantity of wood from tree removals, storms and routine tree maintenance, and previously, this material has been chipped for mulch at best.  The Waste Wood Utilization Workshop brought together people on the cutting-edge of developing technologies and programs to put otherwise discarded raw timber to good use.  The workshop was held on June 28, 2006 at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. 

The audience of 60 people heard presentations by businesses that process discarded wood and from government staff seeking to boost government participation and provide incentive programs to reclaim this valuable resource from the waste stream. 

Presentations ranged from new technology for examining trees and saw logs with portable radar equipment to assess wood value and safety, to carpenters and woodworkers creating furniture and flooring, to concepts for wood-to-energy facilities.

To view slide presentations from this event, please visit this meeting, click here.