Wood Waste Now Graded

The Wood Recyclers' Association has published a gradings structure that shows what kinds of wood are suitable for various end markets for the first time.

A grading structure which aims to clarify for the first time what kinds of recovered wood are suitable for different end markets has been published by the Wood Recyclers' Association (WRA).

The four grades represent an important step towards developing the UK's first fully-fledged standard for recovered wood, which is set to be produced by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), but requires more detail.

In brief, the grades are:
• Grade A: "Clean" recycled wood - material produced from pallets and secondary manufacture etc and suitable for producing animal bedding and mulches.
• Grade B: Industrial feedstock grade - including grade A material plus construction and demolition waste, this is suitable for making panelboard.
• Grade C: Fuel grade - this is made from all of the above material plus thatfrom municipal collections and civic amenity sites and can be used for biomass fuel.
• Grade D: Hazardous waste - This includes all grades of wood including treated material such as fencing and trackwork and requires disposal at special facilities.
 
The WRA has been working for some time to finalise the structure and has consulted widely, both among its members and with other stakeholders, including WRAP and also the Wood Panel Industries Federation which represents the largest current market for recycled wood, the panel-board industry.
The final structure has been approved by the WRA board and issued to all members during the last week (see attachment below).
WRA secretary Peter Butt said: "The purpose of the grading structure is to provide a simple and common understanding as to what grade of material is suitable for each main market sector.
"We anticipate that over time it will become standard terminology within the industry. It will also be reviewed regularly as the industry evolves."

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