Research Points out Increase in Wood Recycling

New research from the Waste & Resources Action Programme shows that wood recycling in the United Kingdom has increased by 85 percent since 1996, with more than 1.2 million metric tons of wood waste recycled last year.

The research also shows that the end uses are evolving as the amount of recycled wood being used in the ‘added value’ sector (bedding, mulches, surfaces etc.) has grown from five percent in 2003 to 14 percent last year.

The findings are part of an in-depth study into the UK’s wood waste market entitled Wood Waste Arisings And Management. The survey collated and analyzed data and reports relating to UK wood waste produced over the past decade. The aim of the research is to establish trends in wood waste and its management in order to forecast waste volumes in the future.

The report shows the UK is now producing more than 10.5 million metric tons of wood waste each year.  Of this, 1.065 million metric tons is municipal waste, compared with 4.481 million metric tons of commercial and industrial waste. 

Of the commercial and industrial wood waste, a significant proportion – up to 56 percent – has been attributed to packaging; a quarter comes from panel board manufacture, 12 percent from furniture manufacture, and 4 percent from construction product manufacture.

The predominant recycling route for waste wood remains panel board manufacture, which took nearly one million metric tons of post consumer wood waste in 2003. However, nearly 200,000 metric tons went into horticultural surfaces and animal bedding in 2004; with more than 200,000 metric tons combusted in small-scale boilers.

Although the quantities of wood waste that are recycled have increased in recent years, the overall volume of wood waste being produced is also growing and the report suggests an upward trend is likely to continue.  This growth is attributed to the demands of the UK property market and an increase in the use of timber-framed houses, window frames, decking and flooring.

Tom Fourcade, Materials Sector Manager – Wood at WRAP, said: “Ten years ago there was no significant wood recycling taking place in the UK, however in recent years we have made significant progress.  It is extremely encouraging to see new markets open up, however we need to maintain the momentum in the coming years as demand for wood-based products continues to burgeon.

“We believe this report to be one of the most comprehensive ever to be carried out into the wood waste arisings market.  Having analyzed data produced over the past decade we now have a true understanding of the levels of wood waste being produced in different sectors and the predominant recycling routes.  This knowledge will enable us to continue to support the UK’s wood recycling sector over the coming years.”

A summary of the report is available to download from www.wrap.org.uk. Further information on wood recycling is available at www.recyclewood.org.uk.