The use of reclaimed wood is presently one of the hottest design trends, as demonstrated by the overwhelming interest in the upcoming 'Create from a Crate' Competition and Exhibition.
The Woodworkers Association in partnership with Waste Converters have re-launched the successful competition in 2014, receiving more than double the applications than in previous years. Skilled furniture makers, sculptors, turners and carvers from around Australia have taken up the challenge to produce a prize-winning design or artwork from just two recycled wooden pallets used to import product to Australia from the USA
Every year hundreds of thousands of crates and pallets containing goods and components from all over the world are imported into Australia. Much of this packaging ends up in landfill, and it is estimated that over 500,000 tonnes of timber waste is disposed of each year in Victoria, enough to fill the MCG 1.5 times.
Ward Petherbridge from Waste Converters Recycling launched the exhibition as a way of educating the community about wood-packaging waste. "Our business recycles over 20,000 tonnes of packaging waste annually. Much of the timber processed is from exotic foreign timber species including oak, cherry, maple and elm. On-site we repair and re-purpose a significant volume of timber pallets, but unfortunately a percentage still gets pulverised into low-grade mulch. The exhibition goes some-way towards preserving and showcasing the inherent beauty of timber waste," said Mr Petherbridge.
'Create from a Crate' entrants clockmaker Will Mattysen and furniture maker Kristen Montgomery from Sneaky Boarding Design agree. "The crates have been made from beautiful timber and are worth recycling," said Mr Matthysen. According to Ms Montgomery: "The advantages are that every piece you make is unique. There is also the feeling of accomplishment you receive once you have completed a project that started off looking like a beaten and broken crate and now looks like a beautiful piece of furniture."
