Over 96% of waste wood processed in 2024, WRA says

The association said that there was “strong demand” for material in 2024. According to the statistics, 4.5 million tonnes of waste wood arose in the UK last year. Of this, 4.33 million tonnes (96%) were sent for reuse, recycling or recovery, the figures showed. 

The organisation compiled the 2024 figures through its annual survey of members who handle approximately 90% of the market, combining the findings with latest industry data. 

The figures are somewhat similar to 2023 which saw 97% of the material processed (see letsrecycle.com story).

The statistics highlighted that large-scale biomass continued to be the largest end user of waste wood during 2024, accounting for 2.8 million tonnes (65%) of material. This has seen no increase from 2023. 

The data also showed that the panel board industry remained the second largest user of waste wood, using over 920,000 tonnes (21% of processed material). This represented a small decrease of 4.5% compared to 2023, which the WRA explained was due to the depressed housing market and the closure of the West Fraser South Molton manufacturing plant.

The amount of waste wood used for animal bedding, equine surfacing and other recycling and reuse is said to have decreased 11% year-on-year to 310,000 tonnes. The association linked this to reduced demand for poultry bedding due to avian flu, alongside reduced construction activity impacting reuse.

Exports/imports netted off rose 2.8% year-on-year to approximately 211,000 tonnes (5% of the market), the reason for this being high demand for biomass feedstock in Europe, the WRA said.

Usage in small scale biomass remained static at 90,000 tonnes which accounted for 2% of the market.

‘Great shape’

Julia Turner, executive director of the WRA, said: “These figures show the UK waste wood market remains balanced and in great shape with well-developed and environmentally compliant markets for all domestic material.

“For our industry to maintain this performance in 2025, it is important that sites are able to store material over the summer months for when it is most needed. This is why we are calling for the Environment Agency to ensure that its recently-announced Regulatory Position Statement 352 is not too restrictive, and allows waste wood to be stored safely and compliantly for long enough that it can be used through the coming winter.”