More good from recycled wood

The survey will centre on Redditch Borough Council as a case study and will be carried out by a team of five researchers from UCN’s SITA Centre for Sustainable Wastes Management. The project will aim to identify and quantify the potential uses of recycled wood in the borough, while also producing GIS (Geographic Information Systems) maps of the findings.

The project is being commissioned as part of WRAP’s ongoing campaign to increase the procurement of recycled wood products for landscaping use within the public sector. Results from the survey will be published in the form of a case study report.

Julia Turner, material development manager for wood at WRAP, said: “We hope the findings will provide both information and a case study that will assist us in explaining the full potential uses of recycled wood products to local authorities who may not yet have considered them as a suitable landscaping medium for plant beds, paths or play areas.

“Recycled wood is an extremely durable, cost-effective surfacing product, which reduces maintenance requirements such as weeding and watering, yet currently only 44% of those responsible for choosing landscaping materials at local councils are aware of the availability of recycled wood products for this use.”