The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) plans to deliver an additional 150,000 tonnes of UK wastewood recycling capacity during the next three years.
Priorities in WRAP’s newly-published 2004-2006 Business Plan include increasing the consumption of wastewood by the panel board manufacturing industry; supporting further diversification of wood recycling, particularly higher-value applications; and raising awareness of recycled products among potential buyers in targeted sectors.
It also intends to promote a growth in segregation of woodwaste for recycling at household waste sites, in the furniture industry and during construction and demolition activities.
WRAP said the wood recycling industry was dominated by one major market – the manufacture of panel board. In 2001 the sector accounted for 87% of all wastewood recycling.
But it said other emerging uses such as animal bedding, surfacing and horticultural mulches were capable of delivering between £100-400 per tonne compared with around £20 per tonne for processed woodwaste for panel board.
