PAST SUCCESSES

Reducing wood waste in the UK
Project Dates: 2001-2004

Using wood carefully and reducing waste is an important element of sustainable wood use. There is significant wastage of timber at every stage of its production, from harvesting, through primary and secondary processing (see diagram). Timber from products or old buildings that could be re-used is often thrown away.

In 2001-2004, the Global Trees Campaign worked on a project to raise awareness of the levels of wood waste in the UK and encourage the timber industry and consumers to use wood more wisely.

Outputs

Outputs from the project include:

• An Introduction to Wood Waste in the UK (2001), a study detailing the current status of wood waste, re-use and recycling efforts in the UK. Download here (132Kb)

• The organisation of timber recycling workshops in Cambridge, Manchester and Bristol in 2002 - 2003. The workshops aimed to bring interested parties together to discuss wood waste and timber recycling and promote best practice. Download the workshop reports here.

• The Good Wood Guide (2002), produced in collaboration with Friends of the Earth, a consumer guide to buying and using wood.

• The National Directory of Reclaimed Furniture Suppliers (2003) – a list of furniture dealers and makers supplying furniture made from reclaimed wood.

• Reducing wood waste in furniture manufacture (2003) – a report aimed at promoting best practice in waste minimization within the UK furniture industry. Download here (350Kb)

• A web-based clickable map showing local authority wood recycling facilities available to the public and companies providing wood recycling services to businesses. This map is now out of date and no longer available.


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