Independently verified figures, released at the end of September, show the important role that the wood recycling industry has in helping the UK to reach its Net Zero goals. And as the UK’s leading machinery supplier to the demolition, waste materials handling and recycling industries, Molson are delighted to be able to play our part in this success.
What has the waste wood sector achieved?
As we reported in August, the waste wood industry boasts a remarkable 97% recycling rate, with 4.4million tonnes of waste wood being reused or recycled every year. According to the Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA), the sector has saved almost ¾ million tonnes of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere. This has partly been achieved through the use of waste wood as a biomass fuel.
Waste wood biomass produces 470MW of low carbon energy per year – enough to power 840,000 UK homes. In the process, it has saved 701,000 tonnes in carbon emissions from being released. Industry experts estimate that if carbon capture and storage technology is added to these biomass plants, this saving could increase fivefold, cutting 3.6million tonnes of carbon emissions every year. This represents around a sixth of the Government’s total target for carbon capture.
Panel boards save even more
By re-using waste wood, instead of new wood, the panel board manufacturing sector is also playing its part. Recycled wood panel boards are estimated to have sequestered 1.1 million tonnes of carbon in 2023 alone. Add this to the carbon savings of biomass plants, and it brings the total carbon saving to almost 2 million tonnes a year.
“The waste wood industry is leading the way in promoting the circular economy that’s so vital to future sustainability,” says Molson Recycling Sales Director, Thomas McKeever. “Here at Molson, we have the waste handling machines and the expert service to fully support the waste wood recycling sector as it forges ahead with new, innovative plans to reduce carbon emissions.”
Amber wood gets the green light
These impressive figures from the WRA will only get better following the latest decision from the Environment Agency regarding amber waste wood. From the end of September, most amber waste wood from demolition and construction sites will no longer require expensive testing and complex hazardous materials disposal.
The new regulations mean that the vast majority of waste wood from demolition and refurbishments can now be transported and recycled quickly and easily, without any of the previous expense or paperwork. This includes roof timbers, tiling and cladding battens, timber frames and joists from buildings built between 1950 and 2006, and external timber cladding, external doors and external windows from buildings built between 1950 and 1995.
Industry leading Sennebogen waste handlers
The key to cost-effective waste wood handling is having the right machines on site to sort it for transport, and the right machines at the recycling centre to handle to incoming waste. The Sennebogen range at Molson includes over 60 different machines, from the Sennebogen 718E timber handler and Sennebogen 821E Mobile waste handler, to the Sennebogen 825 series of scrap and waste handlers, with wheeled and crawler options. Many of the machines in the Sennebogen range further support the environmental agenda by offering the option of an electric power plant, for cleaner, greener operation.
“Sennebogen’s powerful electric motors complement the environmental benefits of recycling by cutting the carbon cost of the process itself,” explains Thomas. “The less carbon that’s produced in the recycling of materials, the greater the gain for the environment.”
To find out more about how Molson is supporting Net Zero through the supply of energy efficient waste handlers from Sennebogen, get in touch with your local Molson depot today, or complete our online contact form and we’ll be in touch.
