Recycling construction materials
Recycling wood from construction projects
Guide
Most types of timber can be recycled. Waste wood can come in a variety of forms from medium density fibreboard (MDF) to tree branches.
The main causes of wood waste are:
- pallets
- crates
- beams
- window and doorframes
- doors
- floorboards
- shuttering
- fencing
- panels, such as chipboard
Recycling options for wood
The categories of wood which can be recycled are:
- manufacturing wood wastes
- reclaimable and recyclable wood materials - from demolition and construction, including pallets, the wood is chipped for other uses, excluding architectural salvage
- non-reclaimable and non-recyclable wood wastes - eg old fencing, laminated floor coverings and rotten windows and doors
However, there are some limitations to recycling wood, including:
- limited waste management options and facilities on site
- unknown levels of contamination
- low profitability
- limited marketplace - there are no real markets for reclaimed laminated wooden flooring as it often contains adhesives, plastics, mixed species of timber and surface finishes
- practical difficulties in recycling wood - eg a skip of chipboard is hard to recycle due to the quantity of glue
- local government policies
Making changes to your site operations
You can make simple yet effective changes to your site's operations to allow more wood to be recycled by:
- allowing time for waste management planning
- providing staff with training in waste reduction and health and safety
- selecting a secure storage area to protect materials from accidental and weather damage
- separating wood waste to avoid contamination
- arranging transport for collection of waste
Potential end uses for reclaimed wood
Reclaimed wood can be used in applications and materials including:
- chipboard, oriented strand board and fibreboard manufacture
- bedding products for animals
- play surfaces and pathways
- remanufactured products - eg fibre composites
- architectural components
- landscaping
- commercial products - eg logs, fuel chips
- liquid fuel (ethanol and methanol)
- biofuel for combined heat and power plant
See carpentry - how to cut waste and costs.
You can find licensed waste sites to recycle or dispose of wood.