The Wood Goes
in the Blue Bin.
We Turn It Into
Wages.
The Crate Makers Union holds the legal right to scrap lumber at every permitted construction site. Government-approved. Fully insured. WCB-covered. No building ticket is issued until the Crate Makers have been called in.
A Government-Backed
Trade Union Program
for Reclaimed Wood.
Shaffer's Crate and Block — operating as the Crate Makers Program — is a scalable municipal initiative founded by Gerald Shaffer in British Columbia. The program establishes a registered trade union of woodworkers who hold a legislated right to scrap lumber designated for the bin at any permitted construction site.
The Crate Makers arrive on site, process the scrap wood into handmade goods — crates, mallets, blocks, and more — and clear the site. The building agent confirms completion. Only then is the building ticket or occupancy permit issued.
The program is fully government-approved, covered by WorkSafeBC (WCB), and carries full site insurance. It operates as a self-funding loop: the goods are sold, the workers are paid, and the wood never reaches the dump.
"The wood was going to the dump. The workers needed work. We just connected the two — and made it law."
How the Program Works
Permit Issued
A developer or contractor pulls a building permit from the local municipality. The Crate Makers program is a condition of that permit.
Crate Makers Called
As scrap lumber accumulates in the blue bin on site, the contractor calls in the registered Crate Makers Union. This is a legal obligation.
Made On Site
Crate Makers arrive in their van, set up at the bin, and build crates, mallets, and blocks from the scrap wood — right there on the job site.
Site Cleared & Confirmed
The building agent inspects and confirms the Crate Makers have processed the scrap. Only then is the occupancy or building ticket issued.
Goods Sold, Workers Paid
Finished goods are sold to the public and businesses. Proceeds go directly to the Crate Makers. The cycle continues at the next site.
Adopt the Bylaw.
Zero Cost to the City.
The Crate Makers program is designed to be adopted by any municipality through a simple amendment to existing building permit conditions. The program costs the city nothing — it is entirely self-funded through the sale of finished goods.
By adopting the bylaw, your municipality gains a registered, insured, WCB-covered workforce diverting construction wood waste from landfills, creating local employment, and producing goods that circulate back into the local economy.
Your Ticket Depends On It.
In municipalities that have adopted the Crate Makers bylaw, calling in the Crate Makers Union is a condition of your building permit. Here's what that means for your site.
Simple Process
When your scrap bin is ready, you make one call. The Crate Makers van arrives, the team sets up beside the bin, and they handle everything. No coordination overhead.
No Disposal Cost
The Crate Makers take the wood off your hands at no charge. You save on disposal fees while fulfilling your permit condition. The wood that was costing you money now costs you nothing.
Ticket Issued
Once the Crate Makers confirm site clearance to the building agent, your occupancy or building ticket is issued. Clean, documented, and compliant.
Check whether your municipality has adopted the Crate Makers bylaw, or contact us to bring the program to your city.
What We Make
Every product is made on-site from scrap lumber that would have gone to the dump. Every sale pays a Crate Maker directly.
The Wooden Mallet
Fire-branded with the Just Gerald Magazine mark. Turned handle, sturdy lanyard. Made from reclaimed BC construction lumber on the job site.
The BC Blox Crate
Solid, slatted wood crates stamped with the authentic BC Blox mark. Made entirely from reclaimed construction lumber. Storage, display, retail, or transport.
Join the
Crate Makers Union.
If you have woodworking skills and you're looking for steady, paid work, the Crate Makers Union is your trade. You'll be dispatched to permitted construction sites, set up beside the scrap bin, and build goods from wood that would otherwise be dumped.
You are covered by WorkSafeBC (WCB) and the program carries full site insurance. You work as part of a recognized union with a legislated right to the material. You get paid for what you make.