The Wood Recyclers' Association (WRA) has compiled data of how much wood was sent to different markets in 2007, based on information submitted by its members and provided by the Wood Panel Industries Federation.
The emerging challenge for wood recyclers will be to balance the requirements of existing consumers with the need to service a rapidly growing renewable energy sector
Rick Wilcox, WRA
The statistics show that nearly 2 million tonnes of wood was diverted from landfill last year, with the panel board industry the main consumer, taking 60% (1,200,000 tonnes).
However, both animal bedding markets and biomass crept up the scale -accounting for 20% (390,000 tonnes) and 12% (250,000 tonnes) respectively.
Mulches, soil conditioners and composting (4%) pathways and coverings (1%) and equine surfaces (3%) accounted for the remaining material.
The data represents the first wood recycling figures since WRAP published a study in 2004 and will be revised annually by the WRA each year, so it can make comparisons and plot trends – particularly as the advent of biomass plants changes the market dynamic.
Secretary Rick Wilcox told letsrecycle.com today: “There is going to be a huge amount of biomass in the next few years and its going to be important to get a handle on where the wood is going.”
He added: “The continuing needs of the board mills together with the burgeoning requirement fo recycled wood as biomass should ensure that demand will continue to be strong in the forseeable future. The emerging challenge for wood recyclers will be to balance the requirements of existing consumers, especially the panel board mills, with the need to service a rapidly growing renewable energy sector.”
Protocol
This week, the WRA also announced that it would be launching a wood packaging protocol and trainer handbook at its meeting in Glasgow next week on June 18.
The protocol has been produced as part of a co-ordinated drive by the WRA and Wood Panel Industries Federation to raise standards in the industry and to give government and regulators more confidence in wood packaging tonnage claims.
At present, there is no consistent approach to how wood recyclers check loads coming into their yards – with recyclers in Scotland for instance being forced to separate out all packaging before it is weighed.
This has prompted claims that some operators have been claiming more producer responsibility revenue from PRNs than they were entitled.
However, the packaging protocol provides a uniform code which binds those who have signed up to it to a set procedure – ensuring consistency.
For instance, the packaging content of each mixed load must be visually checked and estimated by a suitably trained operative, and firms must produce audit trails.
All WRAP and WFIF members have signed up to the Protocol, and they hope that other wood recyclers who are not members will also choose to comply.
Mr Wilcox said: “Packaging is not a particular issue at the moment because packaging PRN prices are on the floor at about £2-£2.50 a tonne but they have been £15 a tonne in the past and there may well be a time when they are more valuable and we need to prepare.”
For more information and to download the Protocol and Trainer Handbook, please visit the Wood Recyclers' Association website.
Register for free to comment