Wood recycling - how can used wood be recycled?
Ecology
23 January 2023
Recycling is one of the most important aspects of caring for the environment. Reusing plastic, paper or clothing has not only become important, but also popular. Such activities are promoted by, among others, large companies with high authority. Recently, there has been more and more talk about wood recycling. Find out what exactly it is and what are the ways to recycle wood waste!
Wood recycling - what is it based on?
Wood recycling is based on reusing wooden products or waste instead of throwing them away. The aim of this is that recycling has a positive impact on the environment. In the case of wood, this is important for two reasons. Firstly, it reduces the amount of rubbish lying in landfills. Secondly, it contributes to reducing the need to cut down trees.
Raw material is needed to make wood products. This can be obtained either from forests or from recycling. For ecological reasons, the second option is definitely preferable. Wood recycling functions under several guises. One of these is post-consumer wood recycling. This means converting old products made from the raw material (e.g. furniture) into new ones.
Recycling wood waste, on the other hand, is the use of all offcuts, pallets and raw parts that have been generated during the production of new wood objects. Such waste can be found in carpentry shops, among other places. Fewer trees cut down means better air quality. The company InPost, among others, is involved in activities for a clean biosphere in Poland. Even on the Paczkomat® machines, you can find sensors that test the state of the air.
What is created from recycled wood?
Recycled wood has quite a few different uses. One of the most popular is to grind it up and then create furniture boards. It is used to create new furniture and also in the construction industry, e.g. for levelling the walls of buildings. Sawdust is very often used to make pellets, a very popular fuel for burning in cookers. This is an environmentally friendly way of insulating buildings without emissions. In addition, recycled wood is useful in combined heat and power plants.
A good way to reuse wood on your own is to use it to burn in the fireplace, for example. You can also use old furniture or boards to make your own decorations, shelves or storage boxes. Old wood can also be used to make flower holders and for gardening. DIY enthusiasts can even tackle larger projects and construct, for example, a table from recycled wood.
What does the wood recycling process look like?
Wood is a specific natural material that can easily become saturated with moisture and then needs a considerable amount of time to be dry again. Before recycling, the wood must be properly cleaned, as it may contain dirt or paint on the surface, for example. It needs to be stored in a dry place and carefully transported to specialised sites where it is shredded.
In special factories with modern equipment, sawdust is made from the wood and then passed on for further processing, such as making fibreboard. Sometimes sawdust itself is purchased, as it is used in gardens and can act as plant mulch. Recycling wood is important for the planet, as it keeps valuable raw materials out of landfills.
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