WRAP Seeks Boost in Wood Recycling Programs

The Waste & Resources Action Programme is set to release a number of additional programs that are aimed to accelerate investment in higher value wood recycling and create new wood reprocessing infrastructure, particularly in the South East part of the country where a market gap has been identified.

It is estimated that around one million metric tons of wood waste is generated in South East England a year, most of which is landfilled due to a lack of viable recovery options. Research conducted by WRAP earlier this year found that if end market demand can be generated and the appropriate reprocessing capacity put in place, then sufficient collection infrastructure already exists to generate the necessary supply of wood waste.

As a result, the capital support competition, which is being delivered in partnership with the South East England Development Agency, aims to divert more wood waste from landfill into higher value uses by: creating new wood reprocessing capacity in South East England; and increasing the manufacturing of added value recycled wood products.

Overall, the aim is to stimulate 100,000 metric tons of additional recycling infrastructure, primarily but not exclusively in the South East. Of this total, at least 35,000 metric tons is intended to be recycled into value added products.

The grant aid is targeted particularly at helping small and medium sized enterprises to cover the capital costs involved in creating new reprocessing capacity (such as land, buildings, equipment and machinery). This will enable the manufacture of high value recycled wood products (such as animal bedding, surfaces and horticultural products), as well as the production of recycled wood suitable for incorporation into panel board products and composting with green waste.

WRAP’s Wood Programme has an overall target to deliver an additional 150,000 metric tons of recycling capacity for waste wood, with the majority going to higher value markets.