In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Eric Law, CEO and Co-founder of Urban Machine, about how robotics and AI are transforming one of construction’s dirtiest secrets — wood waste. Every year, the U.S. generates over 37 million tons of discarded lumber, most of which ends up burned or buried. Urban Machine’s automated system, fittingly named The Machine, scans, “cooks,” and removes metal fasteners from used lumber, turning what was once landfill-bound debris into reusable, high-value wood. The conversation explores the evolution of this technology, the economics of competing with virgin lumber, new building-code pathways for reclaimed materials, and how scaling local reuse could reshape construction’s carbon footprint.Key Points:<ul><li>The scale of waste is staggering – Each year, construction and demolition sites across the U.S. generate more than 600 million tons of debris — twice the amount of household waste. As demand for low-carbon building materials grows, this overlooked waste stream represents one of the construction industry’s largest untapped sustainability opportunities.</li><li>Automation unlocks circularity – Until recently, reclaiming wood at scale was slow, expensive, and labor-intensive. Urban Machine changes that equation with a robotic system that uses AI-driven computer vision to identify and remove fasteners, nails, screws, and staples at industrial speed.&nbsp;</li><li>Sustainability benefits multiply – Every board that’s reused instead of discarded extends carbon storage, reduces deforestation, and cuts the emissions tied to manufacturing and long-distance transport of virgin lumber. Because Urban Machine’s model relies on local sourcing and processing, it also minimizes trucking miles and landfill methane emissions, while supporting regional supply chains.&nbsp;</li></ul> <ul><li>Eric Law, CEO and Co-Founder of <a href="https://urbanmachine.build/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Urban Machine</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-law-innovation/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li><li>Luis de Leon, Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Sr. Public Relations Account Executive at <a href="https://technica.inc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Technica Communications</a></li></ul> 🚀 Calling all Earthlings…&nbsp;&nbsp;Visit our <a href="https://earthlingspodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a> for more episodes!Sign up to our <a href="https://theearthlingspodcast.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">newsletter</a> for the latest news on the most exciting technology and research shaping our futures!&nbsp;We want to learn more about you! It’ll take just a few moments to complete our <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1QjZGBcv41Kgl4TbKEP2US-SiooH_R9812UBapuqudFs/edit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">survey.</a> Thank you for helping us make your listening experience the best it can be!Are you new to Earthlings 2.0 and don’t know where to get started? Check out our <a href="https://earthlingspodcast.com/episodes/life-at-3-c/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Life at 3C episode</a> on our websiteThanks for tuning in! If you like what we’re doing over at Earthlings 2.0, you can support us by heading over to our <a href="http://patreon.com/TheEarthlingsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Patreon Page</a>.Let’s stay connected! Follow Earthlings 2.0 Socials for the latest updates and news:&nbsp;<ul><li>Follow us on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/earthlings-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li><li>Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/earthlingspod/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Follow us on our<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086533328643" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Facebook Page</a></li><li>Follow us on <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/earthlingspod?lang=de" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">X</a>&nbsp;</li></ul> Thanks to <a href="https://resourcelabs.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Resource Labs</a> for having us on the network!

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#131: Why AI + Robotics Could Be The Future of Reclaimed Lumber with Urban Machine

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