Running a timber recycling business Ian Dolan of Recycled Timbers in Sydney’s west operates a timber recycling business in a 12,000 m2 shed dedicated to recycling electric light poles, bridge timbers and marine piers. A podcast of Ian’s story is available on the Builders and Tradies Radio website.   New research on acceptable levels of preservative treated timber in reuse applications released A report by researchers at University of Melbourne and Monash University providing guidance on appropriate allowable levels of preservatives in products from wood waste has just been released. The guidelines are referenced against major end use classes and dominant timber treatments. In addition, the research highlights the discrepancies between mandated exposure limits for the chemical constituents and some recycling industry guidelines and the risks associated with the recommended concentration limits of commercially used preservatives in wood recycling applications in Australia. Download the full research report.   Global NRG seeks waste wood Global NRG, a leading Waste-to-Energy (WTE) group are just entering Australia and are looking for 4-6 million tonnes of wood from a range of sources, including post-consumer and sawmill residues. The company owns patented technologies for converting cellulose waste, including wood, into renewable energy either for electricity or syngas. Global NRG plants are already operating in North and South America, Europe, Africa, China and Russia. More information at www.nuglobalnrg.com   $750 subsidy for business to reduce waste disposal in Queensland With the introduction of an Industry Disposal Waste Levy in Queensland the Government has developed a range of programs to help business reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. One program is a $750 subsidy to review existing waste management arrangements, and commit to improvement by introducing a new resource recovery service to divert more material from going to landfill. Limited subsidies are available. For more information: QLD Government Environmental Management   Recycling pays off in award winning Australian design An old tip site turned recycling depot in the Melbourne outer suburb of Dandenong has proven a useful resource for architects and designers of some of 2011’s most acclaimed projects. Read more at Architecture & Design.   Ubeeco – New system for recycling wood offcuts Ubeeco Packaging Solutions in Sydney’s west have invested in new hoppers and a chipping system to recycle their packaging wood offcuts into the landscape industry. To see the hoppers, chipper and integrated pickup system have a look on the Environmental page of their Website at www.ubeeco.com.au/Environment.htm   Fully automated wood recycling plant opens in Perth On the 6th April 2011, the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) officially opened their fully automated Wood Grinding Plant at The Hazlemere Timber Recycling Centre in Perth, which is designed to recycle 20 tonne per hour of wood waste. HAAS-Recycling (Germany) designed and manufactured the entire plant, which turns waste wood usually destined for landfill, into two separate streams of chipped and cleaned products that EMRC can sell as animal bedding and for particle board manufacturing. More information in the HKSD Technology Newsletter, June 2011 (2.7 MB)   Read about the Winner of the Best Use of Recycled Timber Award at the Australian Timber Design Awards The Spa Sanctuary at Gwinganna is a marvellous example of how timber can be adopted in various applications from structure to decorative details. A large portion of the pallet employed for the structure and detail of the design comprised Australian reclaimed hardwood timbers that originated from local wharfs, bridges, and old buildings. Read more   Carbon Benefits of Not Landfilling Wood Pallets & Packaging A new calculator to assist companies calculate the greenhouse gas savings from diverting used wood pallets and packaging from landfill to reuse, recycling and renewable energy applications in NSW is now available. The calculator, funded by NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, has been launched for a trial period of 6 months. More information at www.timberstewardship.org.au/calculator   Don't get wasted. Reduce your exposure to the Queensland waste disposal levy Queensland's Waste Disposal Levy starts this year and it will apply to all timber waste. The NTPSG is speaking at a free seminar on Thursday 2nd June where a range of State Government and industry speakers will inform industry about implications and alternative reuse, recycling and renewable energy options to reduce exposure to increased waste timber disposal costs. More information at www.timberqueensland.com.au   Kennedy’s Timbers Win Award for Recycling Power Poles On 1 April 2011 Kennedy's Timbers was awarded the 2010 ENERGEX Innovation in Sustainability Award. Kennedy’s now recycle old ENERGEX poles and cross arms to sell as recycled timber, a process that has now been extended to shorter length poles, further reducing the amount of waste that would otherwise go to landfill and reducing ENERGEX’s carbon dioxide emissions. More information at www.kennedystimbers.com.au.   Sydney - Direct Pallets Start Waste Pallet Pickup and Recycling Service Direct Pallets in Sydney have started up a pick-up service ideal for odd or out of size pallets that are unsuitable for recycling as re-usable pallets. Instead of being landfilled these pallets are fully recycled as wood chip for garden mulch, animal bedding or playground softfall. The cost? Cheap! Often half the cost of the big waste bin companies. This new service is in addition to their new and used pallets reuse services. More information at www.directpallets.com.au.

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