These 10 types of wood are now banned from skips

Certain types of wood have now been banned from skip collections following new legislation from the Environment Agency.

After a five-year consultation with the Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA), the government has concluded that some wood used on houses before 2007 is now potentially hazardous due to the chemicals it may have been treated with.

As of September 1, 2023, it is against the law to attempt to recycle wood that falls under these 10 new categories unless it has been proven safe via testing.

The changes mean that SunSkips customers are being asked to keep any potentially hazardous wood out of skips with other mixed waste and to declare it so we can find a legal solution.

What types of wood are now considered potentially hazardous?

The Environment Agency has provided a comprehensive list of the types of wood that must now be kept separate from other wood waste.

This list is made up of wooden building materials used on houses before 2007:

• Barge boards
• External fascia
• Soffit boards
• External joinery (used in wooden windows and conservatories, for example)
• External doors
• Roof timber
• Tiling cladding
• Tiling battens
• Timber frames
• Timber joists

It is the responsibility of the waste generator (a builder’s customer, for example) to determine the age of the building from which waste wood has been generated.

Waste generators who can prove that the above waste types are non-hazardous by providing the results of tests will still be able to recycle their wood with SunSkips. Any UKAS accredited laboratory can perform the testing as long as they work to the WRA02 testing suite and you use the WRA Quick Guide Form for each sample.

Wood that has always been classed as hazardous and continues to be prohibited from skip hire collections include:

• Railway sleepers
• Telegraph poles
• Agricultural fencing
• Waste wood from hydraulic engineering
• Waste wood from docks
• Waste wood from industrial applications
• Cooling tower timbers, wood block flooring or moulds
• Waste wood from boats
• Waste wood from carriages
• Waste wood from trailer beds
• Waste wood treated with creosote

Hazardous and potentially hazardous wood, which falls under the Grade D classification, must be handled with care by a licensed waste management professional.

Why the sudden change in legislation?

The WRA has actually been raising awareness of the Environment Agency’s intentions for five years.

Prior to the September 1 enforcement, waste management companies were able to collect and store potentially hazardous wood in accordance with the EA’s regulatory position statement 250.

The waste community was asked to contribute to testing of various potentially hazardous wood types to determine the likelihood of it being hazardous waste in order to whittle down the number of wood types that the EA would eventually ban.

Hazardous waste wood from construction and demolition activities makes up an estimated 1% of total C&D waste. This is just 0.08% of total UK waste wood, approximately 4,000 tonnes.

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The value of wood recycling in the UK

Despite the fact that the UK is known for its lush landscapes and charming forests, the nation actually doesn’t have a very large domestic supply of wood.

The UK imports a whopping 80% of the wood it uses. That makes it the second-largest wood importer globally, trailing only behind China.

Each year, a staggering 4.5 million tonnes of waste wood are generated in the UK, and a lot of it can be put to good use.

Wood recycling has become an increasingly vital lifeline for the UK’s circular economy. In 1990, only 2% of the UK’s wood waste was being recycled. Fast forward to 2020, and we’re at a far more respectable 80% recycling rate.

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Commonly referred to as “clean wood,” “treated wood,” “mixed wood,” and “dirty wood,” waste wood is broken down into four categories:

Grade A: This is clean and untouched wood. Think landscaping trimmings, wood pallets from shipping, and leftover bits from making untreated wood products. This wood is like gold in the recycling world because it can be easily turned into animal bedding, mulch, paper, and even new wood products like furniture and flooring.

Grade B: This wood comes from construction sites and demolition zones, like old window frames. Even though it’s been around the block, it’s still valuable. We can make panel boards out of it or even use it as biomass fuel.

Grade C: Wood that’s been mixed with plastic, metal, or treated with non-hazardous chemicals. It can be used to make wood pellets or chips for burning and generating energy.

Grade D: This is wood that’s been treated with chemicals that make it a hazard or potential hazard. If it has a strong smell or looks especially dark, it’s probably in this category.

Could more waste types be banned from skips?

The recent wood waste changes come after another big shake up in EA legislation in January this year, when all soft seating was classified as hazardous POPs waste.

SunSkips managing director Mathew Stewart predicts that more waste types could find themselves being banned from skips.

He said, “The news on the street is that because the shift towards banning POPs waste from landfill has gone relatively well, the EA is going to look at what else can be kept out.

“Carpets, mattresses, certain textiles, stain-resistant fabrics, and non-stick items like frying pans are probably next in line. If the EA feels like it can get away with designating something as hazardous, then it probably will do.”

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SunSkips is a compliant waste management company that can be trusted to follow new environmental regulations to the letter. Clients with any questions about the new wood waste legislation should feel free to contact our friendly team.