The Wood Recyclers' Association (WRA) is calling on waste producers to segregate waste wood at source, warning that contamination is limiting recycling potential and narrowing offtake options.
The industry body is advising waste management companies, local authorities, and others that handle waste wood to remove contaminants and ensure material meets end-market specifications. Its principal concern is MDF, which the panel board sector — the UK's largest recycler of waste wood — cannot process due to machinery blockage risks.
The WRA acknowledges that segregation may not be feasible at every site, but says removing MDF where possible can materially improve recycling outcomes and allow producers to supply multiple outlets, reducing dependence on a single processor or energy facility.
Mark Hayton, chair of the WRA, said market conditions over the past year had made finding outlets for waste wood more difficult, placing greater emphasis on quality. 'More offtake options exist for those producing a contaminant-free product which meets the necessary specifications of different end markets,' he said.
Hayton added that MDF was a leading cause of downtime in the panel board sector. 'Manufacturers could use more waste wood overall if they received MDF-free feedstock,' he said.
He noted that many local authorities and waste management companies were keen to supply both the panel board and biomass industries, but stressed that quality and correct segregation were essential prerequisites. 'Focusing on quality and segregation gives producers the widest possible choice of outlets and helps protect against future market volatility,' he said.
WRA urges waste wood segregation to boost recycling rates
