SoftwoodSoftwood is sourced from coniferous trees andtends to be cheaper and less dense (heavy) thanhardwood. Softwood is normally used for packagingsuch as pallets, crates and reels and as framing.

HardwoodHardwood is sourced from broadleaved trees. It isoften darker in colour than softwood and is longerlasting, denser & more decorative than softwood.Hardwood is typically used in expensive furnitureand as a veneer on cheaper materials, such aschipboard or MDF.

BlockboardBlockboard is made up of a core of softwoodblocks (up to about 25mm wide) placed edge toedge and sandwiched between veneers ofhardwood. The 'sandwich' is then bonded underhigh pressure. Blockboard is an old fashionedproduct now less common than chipboard. It isused in furniture and kitchen applications.

PlywoodPlywood sheets are made by bonding together anumber of thin sheets to create a strong flexibleproduct. Plywood has many uses depending onthe wood used in the different layers and thebonding agent. It may be used in applications asvaried as concrete shuttering, in DIY and marine ply.

Orientated Strand Board (OSB)OSB is a layered board, made of wafers of softwoodwith opposing grain to give strength. OSB hassimilar uses to plywood.

ChipboardChipboard panels are made by bonding togetherwood particles with an adhesive under heat andpressure to form a rigid board with a relativelysmooth surface, in which the wood chips are visible.Chipboard is used in most flat-pack furniture,though often with a painted or plastic laminatedsurface.

Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)MDF panels are made from wood fibres gluedunder heat and pressure. MDF differs fromchipboard in that no woodchips are visible. MDF isused as doors and drawer fronts with decorativemoulding and in DIY it is often painted or plasticcoated.

HardboardHardboard is a thin brown or painted panel inwhich the wood chips are not visible. Hardboardtends to be used in cheaper furniture as drawerbottoms or backs.

1Types of woodfor recyclingThis section shows themain wood types seenin the mixed wastestream. The purpose isto help you to recognisethe different woodtypes that pass throughyour site and to helpyou meet your recycler’sspecifications.

The wood types described herecan be categorised as cleanwood, laminated wood productsand products made from varioussizes of wood chip. Comparethe types of wood describedhere with Section Four whichyou can use to show thespecification you are using onsite.

Surface Treatments – paintsand varnishes Surface treatments like paint and varnish are usedto change the appearance of the finished productand to protect items from wear and water damage.A particular problem is that paints or varnishesmay contain lead or other chemicals which makethem unacceptable for some end market uses.Such items can only be removed by picking.

MetalMetal components, such as nails and screws, areused to join wood together or as fittings for doorsand windows. Large pieces of metal can causedamage to wood recycling machinery and can bedangerous to users of products made from recycledwood, for example nails in horse bedding. Ferrousmetals, such as nails, can be removed usingmagnets. Non-ferrous metals, such as aluminiumand brass fittings, may be removed by an eddycurrent separator.

Glass and Putty Glass and putty are typically found in wooden windows.Putty may melt and soil or blunt cutting equipment.Glass contamination is dangerous to users of productsmade from recycled wood such as bedding ormulches. Putty contains oils which can affect themanufacturing processes used to create productsfrom recycled wood, such as panelboard. Glass andputty found in doors and window frames should beremoved where possible. Glass particles are difficultto remove except with expensive equipment.

Paper Paper from labels, wrapping or cores in cheapdoors affects the performance of products madefrom recycled wood as it does not behave in thesame way as the rest of the wood. Paper shouldbe removed by picking where possible.

Plastic – solid and sheeting Plastic may be present as a packaging material inwood effect cabinets or as a veneer on chipboardand MDF. Plastic can melt resulting in fouling ofthe production process. The presence of plasticcontamination can affect the end uses, for examplethey may be unacceptable in biomass fuels.Plastic is best removed by picking.

Rubber, Foam and FabricRubber, foam and fabric tend to occur together inupholstery and, either separately or together, cancause tangles or jam equipment. These materialsmay burn or melt damaging cutting surfaces andother parts of the equipment. Rubber, foam andfabric are best removed by picking. Rubber, inparticular, has a similar density to wood and isvery difficult to remove mechanically, except withexpensive equipment.

Chemical TreatmentsChemical treatments are usually applied to woodto provide protection against the weather andwater. They can typically be recognised as a greenor brown stain, for example on garden fencing orsleepers. Ask your site manager for advice assome may be acceptable. A few may be hazardousto health and banned by legislation. Chemicallytreated wood can be picked out. Remember towear the correct clothing. New testing kits mayhelp identify treated wood at source.See www.recyclewood.org.uk for more details.

Contaminantsand the problemsthey cause therecycler

This section shows thetypes of contaminationyou may see cominginto your site, where itcomes from and the mainways of removing it.

Your recycler may haveequipment fitted to removesome contaminants, howeverprevention of contaminationmakes it easier to produce aquality product from the woodyou collect.

Compare the types ofcontamination described herewith Section Four which youcan use to show the specificationyou are using on site.

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Current marketsfor productsmade fromrecycled wood This section shows therange of products thatcan be made fromwood collected forrecycling in the UK.

The cleanliness and type ofrecycled wood collected willdirectly affect the final productsthat can be manufactured.Some examples of the productsbeing produced in the UK areshown here. Ask the recycleryou supply which products theyproduce.

PanelboardThe most common product is chipboard. It isextensively used in construction, furniture and DIY.It may be sold in simple sheet form, or pre-machinedfor specific uses. It may also be laminated withdecorative finishes for such uses as DIY.

Horse BeddingHorse bedding can be made from recycled wood.Dust and nails must be extracted to protect thehorses and only clean packaging wood waste canbe used. Woodchip provides a warm andabsorbent bedding which lasts for several weeks,reducing the costs and need for mucking out.

Poultry BeddingPoultry bedding is used in the rearing of poultryfor both meat and egg production. For this reasonit must be free from health threats to bothconsumers and birds. The bedding must be lightcoloured and absorbent.

Cattle BeddingRecycled wood products can be used successfullyfor over-wintering of cattle. Large particles areneeded to provide free drainage outside. Howeverwhen inside small particles are required to providehigh rates of absorbency.

Pet Bedding and Cat LitterRecycled wood based products are safe and cleanfor use as cat litter and pet bedding. The materialneeds to be very clean and free from contamination.

Horse Arenas and GallopsThe need to be able to train and ride horses despitethe weather has lead to the development ofall-weather surfaces for gallops and arenas, bothinternal and external. Recycled wood based productswork well for all these uses, but all contaminantsneed to be removed and specific chip sizes arerequired.

Play AreasRecycled wood based products are used insignificant volumes for play area surfacing andhave performance and cost benefits for thisapplication. The material needs to be very cleanand free from contamination.

Mulch and Pathway CoveringsRecycled wood chips can be used very effectivelyas a mulch to suppress weeds, reducing the needfor chemical or manual weeding, and as a pathwaysurfacing to reduce maintenance requirements.These products can also be coloured for creativelandscaping.

CompostingThe process of composting materials with highmoisture content can be improved by adding drymaterial such as shredded chipboard.

Fuel for Energy ProductionHighly efficient boiler systems are now availablewhich burn wood for heat or for electricitygeneration. Recycled wood is ideal for conversioninto fuel pellets or chips, due to its low moisturecontent.

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Clean white wood andoffcuts

Without any nails, fixtures or fittings

Different Levelsof Contamination

What itLooks Like

Wanted orWhere to put it?

Different Woodfor Recycling

With nails, including pallets and boxes

With nails and other metal fixtures

Including solid wood furniture withpaint or varnished finish

Plain chipboard, plywood, MDF andblockboard

Painted & laminated chipboard,plywood, MDF and blockboard

Wood mixed with plastic or electricalitems

Painted or stained wood

Panel and sheetmaterials includingoffcuts

TV cabinets andelectrical goods

Guidance on separatingwood for recycling at source

The Specification – what we want & where it should goThis poster can be used to show the types of wood that typically come on to site.It should be used to show what is wanted and what should not be separated for recycling.

You can put 3 or 7 in the last column or you may want to show which skips to use for different types of wood.

Indoor furniture Chipboard and flat pack

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Creating markets for recycled resourcesFor more information on wood waste please go to www.recyclewood.org.uk or to read more detailed studies on wood waste arisings visit www.wrap.org.uk/materials/woodWRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) is a major UK programme established to promote resource efficiency. Its particular focus is on creating stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products and removing barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.A not-for-profit company, WRAP is backed by substantial Government funding from Defra and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.While steps have been taken to ensure its accuracy, WRAP cannot accept responsibility or be held liable to any person for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with this information being accurate, incomplete or misleading. For more details, please refer to our Terms & Conditions on our website www.wrap.org.uk

Printed on Greencoat 100% recycled stock

Wooden doors andwindow frames

Without glass and metal fittings

With metal fittings

With glass and metal fittings

Pine and solid wood

Upholstered

Outdoor woodenfurniture, fencing andfence panels

Anything stained or sprayed withpreservative (green or brown)

Wood mixed with othermaterials

For example with plasterboard,bricks etc

Railway sleepers,fence panels andposts

Anything potentially treated withcreosote (brown and oily)

Green waste Logs, branches, prunings and other fresh-ly cut tree material