On Tuesday, December 14, 2004, at 11:25AM, Grady Brandt <gbrandt at tampabayfcu.org> wrote: >I have to question whether it's better to encourage the lumber industry in >cutting down all our forests, or to assist the plastics industry in >expanding our landfills. > >While lumber is a theoretically renewing resource, I'm not sure it can keep >pace with demand. The phrase (well, series of one-word fragmenets) "Reduce. Reuse. Recycle." is in that order for a specific reason. First, you should question whether you really need whatever it is that you're going to buy. If you can't get by without it, try to reuse lumber/plastic materials from salvage yards, old buildings, etc. Then, as a last resort, use new lumber, and probably try to find the "most renewable source" that you can buy that fits your needs. I'm pleased & impressed that the previous poster is using composite materials that would otherwise be waste products (sawdust & recycled plastics). I think that's a great way to go, as long as it fulfills his needs. I know that there are also bamboo composites for "hardwood" flooring, but I don't think they're yet making lumber from it, and it's very expensive. But, more renewable than lumber... Anyway, I've contributed enough to this divergence from the swag thread. :) Matthew