Media Release: 12% Increase in Post-consumer Wood Recovery Print
Friday, 28 November 2008 00:00
The National Timber Product Stewardship Group (NTPSG) is well on its way to achieving the goal of one million tonnes wood recovery per annum following the recording of a 12% increase in the 2006-07 financial year. The recovery of post-consumer wood is estimated at over 530,000 tonnes in 06-07 up from 474,000 when it was previously measured.

The NTPSG comprises representatives from timber industry associations and companies from across the supply chain including forest growers, manufacturers, timber preservers, importers, wholesalers and retailers, with input from NSW and Queensland state government representatives. The group focuses on the recovery of post-consumer timber and wood products for reuse, recycling and as a source of renewable energy as well as maximizing the environmental benefits of wood products at the end-of-life stage. The figures are good news as a 7% average annual increase is what is needed to achieve the target of one million tonnes waste recovery per annum by 2017.

Peter Juniper, Chairman of the group, said “This large growth in the placement of post-consumer timber away from landfills is most encouraging. While in its early stages, we believe our Timber - More Life national product stewardship strategy is proving an effective incentive for achieving our target of one million tonnes.”

“Companies involved in recycling, re-use and renewable energy markets are to be congratulated for their contribution towards this goal."

Companies in ACT/New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia were the main contributors to the increase as all improved their recovery over the time period. The increases appear to be a combination of more facilities recycling timber in NSW, stronger demand for renewable fuel in Queensland and more recycling of post-consumer construction and demolition timber in Western Australia. Data gathering, by state governments and Compost Australia, has also improved in nearly all states.
Recovery and utilisation of post-consumer wood in Australia

For more information, see our Post-consumer Timber Recovery Data 2006-07 (PDF, 0.1MB) and view the background notes of the PDF version of this media release: 12% Increase in Post-consumer Wood Recovery (PDF, 01.MB).