RTN (Return To New) Timber is a fledgling social enterprise MERCi is striving to establish. It will be the UK 's first supplier of joinery timbers from a reclaimed source. The project will source reclaimed timber, prepare it, and machine it – producing an end product that is virtually identical to that machined from virgin timber. The environmental benefits range from the minimisation of bulky waste going to landfill, through to a reduction in the demand for virgin timber.
Currently in the UK we are sending massive amounts of wood waste to landfill. Over 9 million tonnes of timber-based products are used by the construction industry each year. Only one-third of a million tonnes is recycled wood, of the 3–5 million tonnes of waste wood available.
We need to rethink the use and re-use of timber, as it can, and does often, have a "second life". However, this service will create a product that is unique – the use of reclaimed timber in joinery tends to be limited to high-value specialty furniture and doors etc, as opposed to off-the-shelf standard profiled timbers, from a source
that may have otherwise ended up landfilled.
Aims & Objectives
RTN Timber will strive to minimise the environmental impact and enhance the social benefits of the construction industry by:
Diverting waste, especially that from the construction and building industry, away from unsustainable forms of waste disposal.
Producing high quality reclaimed timber and construction materials for the construction industry and others.
Offering a high quality holistic service which promotes, encourages and delivers sustainable waste management through 'zero waste'.
Offering high quality employment and training.
Active engagement and support of the social economy in Manchester.
Complimenting the work of Manchester Environmental Resource Centre Initiative Ltd to make Manchester a more sustainable city.
RTN Timber seeks to machine reclaimed timber in order to add value and produce recycled joinery items for the building industry. RTN Timber has grown out of Constructive Waste that supplied a wide variety of reclaimed materials for the refurbishment of Bridge 5 Mill, including internal joinery such as skirting boards and door frames. This enabled the impressive figure of 90% reclaimed materials used in phase 2 of the refurbishment of Bridge-5 Mill.
RTN Timber now plans to set up a workshop on it's own premises and start production in the near future.
