Media Release: National Timber Recovery Target - a Wood-be Success Print
Thursday, 15 November 2007 00:00
Leading timber industry representatives today announced a bold plan to double post-consumer timber recovery to one million tonnes each year. The target will see 65 per cent of timber diverted from Australian landfills.

The National Timber Stewardship Group (NTSG), comprising representatives from timber industry associations, importers, wholesalers and retailers, with input from state government representatives, announced the target in celebration of National Recycling Week.

Chair of the National Timber Stewardship Group, Mr Andrew Dunn said the target is ambitious, but realistic and necessary.

“Australia already reuses large quantities of pre-consumer timber in products such as finger jointed timber, particleboard, medium density fibreboard and charcoal as well as in landscaping, horticulture and renewable energy products

“Today we commit to reductions of post-consumer timber by setting a national target of doubling recovery rates to one million tonnes annually by 2017. This represents approximately 65 per cent of all post-consumer timber sent to landfill throughout Australia.

“The target is achievable, but will require a significant coordinated effort by the timber industry, governments and the resource recovery sector. This is why the NTSG proposed the target as part of a national product stewardship strategy for post-consumer timber”, he said.

Actions proposed to increase recovery include: improved manufacturing and ordering processes to minimise waste, development of markets for recovered timber in reuse, recycling and energy recovery applications as well as greater education about existing reuse and recycling options.

CEO of A3P (the Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council), Mr Neil Fisher said, “The timber industry is proactive, forward looking and a leader in the area of sustainability. “Timber is one of Australia’s truly renewable resources, providing many opportunities for reuse and recycling. By setting a national target for waste recovery, we can focus our activities on maximising timber’s many sustainable qualities.

“A3P is committed to developing product stewardship strategies for post-consumer timber products and in particular treated timber products. The target and actions set by the NTSG compliments A3P’s Sustainability Action Plan”, said Mr Fisher.


Media Background

What is post-consumer timber? Post-consumer timber is waste timber generated by households as well as commercial, industrial construction and demolition activities. It also includes material sourced from the distribution supply chain.

What Does the Target Represent in Terms of Recovery Rates? Data in this area is not very reliable however analysis of the best available information is that an increase in recovery of post-consumer timber from 500,000 tonnes to 1,000,000 tonnes represents diversion from landfill of 65 per cent of all post-consumer waste timber generated throughout Australia.

What is the National Timber Stewardship Group (NTSG)? Membership of the NTSG comprises representatives from the Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council (A3P), National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI), Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA), Timber Preservers Association of Australia (TPAA), Forests NSW, Osmose Australia, Arch Wood Protection and Timber Queensland as well as importers, wholesalers and retailers of timber and wood products. Representatives from the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change and Queensland’s Department of Tourism Regional Development and Industry assist the NTSG. The Timber Development Association NSW provides secretariat services to the NTSG.

Formation of the NTSG and the development of a National Timber Product Stewardship Strategy for Post-Consumer Timber and Wood Products have been made possible by the support the Australian timber industry and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

What is the National Timber Product Stewardship Strategy The timber industry has, for the past year, been developing a national timber product stewardship strategy via a project conducted by A3P and TDA NSW, funded by the industry and the DAFF. This strategy, which is now almost complete, sets out to enhance the recovery of timber products at the end of their initial useful life by best practice product stewardship.

The project has analysed the best available information available and found that the national average recovery rate of post consumer timber is already above 30 per cent. The strategy aims to build on this good progress based on a number of key findings from the project and targeting the most beneficial opportunities for success with respect to building demolition, packaging and treated timber used for landscaping and agricultural applications.