235: From Trash to Power: Diverting Construction Waste at Industrial Scale

How can the AEC industry turn 41 million tons of annual wood waste into a circular economy powerhouse?In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee ventures into the construction and manufacturing side of the built environment to speak with Todd Thomas, founder and CEO of Woodchuck. While the podcast typically focuses on architectural practice, Todd’s work at the intersection of AI and sustainability offers a glimpse into a future where waste is no longer an afterthought, but a valuable commodity.Todd explains the staggering scale of the problem: over 41 million tons of wood are sent to U.S. landfills every year, accounting for nearly 40% of all landfill volume. He details how Woodchuck uses advanced AI platforms to identify, sort, and divert this material at industrial scale. By bridging the gap between construction sites and manufacturing outlets, Todd is building the infrastructure necessary to move the industry away from a "take-make-waste" model and toward a truly circular economy.The conversation also touches on the speed of execution in the tech world versus the slower pace of traditional architectural practice. Todd shares insights into how Woodchuck was "spun up" quickly to meet market demands and why architects need to start thinking about the material life cycle, and deconstruction, long before a project breaks ground."If we don't have a way to divert it, it goes to a landfill. It's that simple. And when it goes to a landfill, it produces methane, which is 80 times more potent than CO2. We have to treat waste as a resource if we want to change the math on sustainability." — Todd ThomasThis episode is a fascinating look at how adjacent industries are solving the problems architects design for. Todd emphasizes that while architects have the vision, they must partner with technologists and "builders" of systems to ensure their sustainable goals are actually met in the field.Guest:Todd Thomas is the founder and CEO of Woodchuck, a technology platform dedicated to wood waste diversion at industrial scale. With a background spanning construction, manufacturing, and emerging technology, Todd has spent his career building AI-driven platforms that solve complex environmental and supply chain challenges. He is a leading voice on the circular economy and the role of tech in scaling sustainability.This episode is especially for you if:✅ You want to understand the true environmental impact of construction waste and why wood is the most overlooked resource in the waste stream.✅ You are curious about how AI and machine learning are being used on the ground to identify and sort materials for reuse.✅ You want to learn how to design for deconstruction and help your clients participate in a circular material economy.✅ You are interested in the speed of tech startups and how their approach to business execution differs from traditional architecture firms.✅ You believe that architectural value should extend beyond the building's completion and into the responsible lifecycle of its materials.What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.📍 Show Links:Learn more about WoodchuckConnect with Todd on LinkedIn📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Instagram | LinkedIn | YoutubeCheck out our past episodes Be a part of our community — join the conversation