The International Code Council (ICC) has approved the American Wood Council's (AWC) proposed code change to expand the use of cross laminated timber (CLT) in nonresidential buildings. Source: Building-products.com

Palmerston North community recycling groups are calling on the city council to team up to help recover more material from the waste stream before it ends up dumped at the Bonny Glen landfill. Source: Manawatu Standard

When the Brill family paid their last debt this year following Forest Enterprises Australia's 2010 collapse, Jillene Brill decided it was time to retire. She'd had enough of the long hours. Source: The Examiner

A forestry expert said that the industry is experiencing significant struggles but is yet to experience the full effect from the collapse of Gunns Timber. Several companies with Western Australian south coast links were implicated in the collapse of Gunns. Source: ABC News

Dunedin's only sawmill, Otago Lumber Ltd, faces an uncertain future. The board of the Mosgiel company will hold a conference to "discuss all available options" to continue trading, said chairman Harold Hill. Source: Otago Daily times

Former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said he would use a seat on the board of one of Tasmania's most controversial environmental groups to help boost the state's economy. He said that Ta Ann could benefit from the group. Source: The Herald Sun

Australia is stepping up its fight against the illegal logging trade with Labor’s Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 passed by the Australian Parliament but will ‘rogue’ environmental groups use it as a ‘blunt instrument’? Sources: Timberbiz, Herald Sun, Business Spectator

An innovative timber construction system being developed in Wales, in the UK could revolutionise the building sector and open up major new markets for farm grown wood. Source: Farm Guardian