Recycling Timber Offcuts Into Wildlife Havens: The Power of Purposeful Waste

Recycling Timber Offcuts Into Wildlife Havens: The Power of Purposeful Waste

At Decor Systems, we’re passionate about reducing waste, and even more passionate about partnering with people who take sustainability and turn it into something magical. That’s exactly what CPS (a long-time offcut partner of ours) has done.

For over four decades, CPS has transformed timber offcuts—what most people would send to landfill—into thousands of breeding boxes, pet products, and even creative classroom materials. But this isn’t just a story about recycling. It’s about passion, purpose, and a deep love for wildlife.

From Show Budgies to Nationwide Impact

“We’ve always manufactured Australian-made pet products,” the founder of CPS tells us. “It started with food and treats, but over time, we evolved into something much more niche and important.”

Inspired by a lifelong love of birds—passed down from his father, who bred show budgies—CPS now produces an enormous range of items. From breeding boxes and carry cages to cat scratching furniture and wild bird shelters, the product line now supports both domestic pets and native species across Australia.

And many of those products? Made from timber offcuts, just like the ones we send their way.

Nesting Boxes by the Thousand

Among CPS’s most popular items is the humble budgie nesting box. “We make a few thousand of these weekly,” he says. “It’s a product that’s priced well thanks to our mix of offcuts and full boards. People love them, and birds love them too.”

These boxes don’t just end up in homes. They’re sent nationally to major retail chains, independent pet stores, and even wildlife organisations. Some are donated to support wildlife conservation efforts. “Using offcuts helps us keep our costs down,” he explains. “That’s crucial when your business relies on high turnover.”

Nothing Goes to Waste—Not Even Sawdust

The creativity doesn’t stop at nesting boxes. Smaller scraps are used to make cat scratching posts or donated to another local business that turns them into canvas frames. “Even our sawdust doesn’t go to waste,” he says proudly. “It’s collected by recyclers to absorb fluids.”

And in an especially wholesome twist, some of the smallest pieces go to local schools for art and craft projects. “I’ve seen kids turn them into giant dominos and matching games,” he says. “One man’s waste is another man’s treasure.”

Overcoming Challenges with Ingenuity

Working with recycled materials isn’t always straightforward. “Offcuts don’t come in a standard size,” he notes. “There’s a lot of sorting involved, and we had to invest in different saws to make the process efficient. But it’s worth it.”

Adaptability has been a key to CPS’s success and their impact.

Why Partnerships Matter

Collaborations with manufacturers like Decor Systems play a big role. “Partnerships like this are hugely important to us,” he says. “Collecting offcuts helps us create products at lower overheads, which means we can keep prices down for our customers and donate more to causes we care about.”

A Simple Philosophy: Nothing Should Be Wasted

His sustainability ethos is straightforward: “I believe one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. There’s always a company that can use another company’s waste. Even platforms like Facebook Marketplace could connect people if more manufacturers were willing to list their offcuts for free.”

Looking to the Future

The team at CPS is always innovating. “We’re currently developing a new range of wild bird feeders using plywood offcuts,” he shares. “I’m confident they’ll be popular.”

And personally? “I get great satisfaction knowing we’re helping animals—both native and domestic—have a safe place to breed or find refuge. And seeing kids turn scraps into art? How good is that.”

Offcuts with Purpose

At Decor Systems, we believe waste isn’t waste until it’s wasted. That’s why we’re so proud to partner with CPS—a business that proves, every day, that purposeful design and clever reuse can create more than just products.

It can create impact.