Timber Recycling

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Timber Recycling Waste Management in
Construction
The Green Buildings Exhibition- Tuesday 12
October 2004 -
TRADA Technology Ltd. Timber Recycling
Information Centre (TRIC)
Martin Christy
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Overview of presentation
This review highlights a number of key issues
including

• TRADA, its services and recent research
• Background on the timber recycling industry
• Wood waste in construction
• Current legislation effecting waste disposal in
  construction
• Case study on saving money and avoiding landfill

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TRADA Technology

• Green Building Support Services
• Reducing waste
• Promoting use of reclaimed timber
• Sustainable specification
• Chain of custody certification
• Timber engineering
• Energy efficient design support
• Design advice
• Certification of high performance

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TRADA research
TRADA Technology has investigated a range of
issues related to timber waste management and
recycling for industry

• Pragmatic waste management for SMEs
• Timber waste management in the UK
• UK wood flows and recycled waste wood markets
• Mass Balance of wood consumption in the UK
• Identifying and sorting preservative treated
  wood

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Wood waste recycling the industry
The wood waste recycling industry has been in
existence for approximately a decade but has
several problem issues Despite this, the
industry has a bright future, dealing in an
eminently recyclable material in a positive
political environment.

• A single dominant end-user of recycled wood chip
  (panel industry)
• Occasional oversupply of woodchip
• Lack of recycling infrastructure in the South
  and South East

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End use applications for recycled wood
TRADA Technology
WRAP1
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Wood waste in construction
Estimates suggest that around 30 of wood waste
produced by the timber using industries is now
being recycled. This could be better, and
construction is a major area of concern, with 96
of wood waste going to landfill in 2002. TRADA
case studies have shown this need not be the
case. It is possible for large and small
construction companies to make financial savings
and avoid landfill.
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Current legislation the need for change
Landfill costs are set to rise steeply

• Landfill tax has already risen to 15/tonne this
  year (totalling a 50 increase in the last five
  years)
• A further 20 increase is forecast for 2005-2006
• There is a projected rise of 3/tonne every year
  thereafter, to a long-term rate of 35/tonne

It will be prudent to look at alternatives to
landfill to prepare for the future impact of
these increases in disposal costs.
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Case study Simons Construction
Simons Construction provided an ideal example of
how money can be saved while diverting waste from
landfill.
Simple well managed on-site waste segregation
pays dividends through concessions negotiated for
pre-sorted skips.
Separate materials are more easily recycled and
landfill tax is avoided.
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Case study Simons Construction
Inert waste and timber waste when separated for
recycling can cost as little as 10/tonne and
25/tonne respectively. The key to making these
savings were

• Developing mutually beneficial relationships and
  agreements with Materials Recycling Facilities
  (MRFs) on disposal rates

• Having an ordered on site system for segregation
  of waste materials
• Training all operatives and trade contractors to
  use the system through site induction

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Case study 2 Integra
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Summary
The EU landfill directive (1999/31/EC) is
beginning to change the way the UK handles
waste. This is leading to dramatic increases in
the cost of landfill, which is believed to be the
only way to meet EU targets. Wood is highly
recyclable and it would be wise to change waste
strategy now, before the increases start to bite.
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Further information
More information is available on
www.recycle-it.org www.trada.co.uk