Why is Wood Recycling So Important?

Wood waste is one of the largest polluters, forming more than 10% of material thrown away to landfills. The UK alone processed 3.98 million toones of waste wood in 2019 according to the Wood Recyclers Association.

Most wood waste comes from construction projects – the waste that comes from wood is the second largest contributor to the debris that is left after demolition and construction. The only reason which makes wood waste better than any other unnatural waste is that if wood waste is disposed of properly, it will decompose itself without harming the environment. However, a significant drawback is wasting wood instead of being able to utilize it for other purposes.

Benefits of Recycling wood

To avoid wasting wood, reducing a negative effect on the environment, and save trees from from being felled, it is suggested that the wood is recycled – it should essentially be made a common practice worldwide. Here are some benefits of wood recycling:

Reduction in landfills

Every piece of wood that we recycle is a piece less in the landfills of wood. It is like a win-win situation where the recycled wood gets a new purpose and the landfills start to get gradually empty. This also helps in reducing the harmful effects of toxic waste in landfills on the environment. Even though wood is a natural element, it takes time to decompose and counts in the landfills, causing pollution.

Cost reduction on material processing

The UK alone spends billions annually to process new wood for manufacturing various products. But, if the waste of wood is treated properly, then it will be way cheaper for the manufacturers. New wood requires more processing as compared to already used wood.

For example, if the paper is made from pulped, recycle paper, it requires almost 40% less energy than that of new wood fibers. In addition, the green economy benefits with hundreds of new wood recycling jobs https://redkitewaste.co.uk/industry-sector/wood-recycling-jobs/ each year are created to deal with waste wood.
Saving trees

Trees don’t grow in a matter of days; rather, they require years and decades to mature. It is alarming that the speed at which we cut down trees is many times faster than the speed we are planting more trees and the rate at which they mature. Recycling wood will ultimately slow down the process of cutting down new trees and contribute to a greener planet. In turn, recycling wood can help us in reducing air pollution, improving air quality and the weather.

Recycling and treating wood is beneficial for balancing and maintaining the ecosystem, and to promote oxygen production by trees.

Eliminating the risk of fire

There is always a risk of wood catching fire and burning if left unattended in piles without adequate safety measures. Even the smallest chemical or atmospheric reaction causing a spark can do the job of starting a fire perfectly in a landfill. The wood waste in the landfills will promote the fire with a strong potential of growing large based on its amount, ultimately threatening the safety of people and damaging the environment.

Andrew Askew

With over a decade of rich experience in recruitment, Andrew has established himself as a leading figure in the Waste, Recycling, and Quarrying sectors. His career is marked by a deep commitment to connecting talented individuals with the right opportunities, fostering career growth and organizational success. Follow Andrew on Linkedin.