The Timber Development Association (TDA) has announced three free seminars in March to assist NSW business recycle more waste wood pallets and offcuts.
“The seminars will assist managers of companies that generate a lot of waste timber to get it recycled instead” said Stephen Mitchell, the TDA’s sustainability programs manager.
Over 140,000 tonnes of waste wooden pallets and packaging are disposed of in Sydney alone each year. The costs of disposal for many businesses are increasing well above inflation at the moment, as the NSW Government waste levy is increased in July of each year.
“A business can reduce costs or at least reduce exposure to future disposal cost increases by reusing and recycling as many old pallets as possible.” said Mitchell.
An example is Komatsu Australia. With branches throughout NSW and deliveries of spare parts and new equipment, it has to contend with a large volume of wood pallets that can’t be reused. The company has been working with Rob James, managing director of Direct Pallets & Recycling.
“We reuse as many as we can for our own purposes to minimise wastage but due to the large quantities we receive, we work closely with Rob to have what can be reused taken away and what can’t be reused shredded and recycled,” said Gordon Wilson of Komatsu’s Fairfield facility.
“Compared to chucking them in a skip, or getting the eyes picked out of them by other pallet companies – the total service is convenient and saves us money in labour and disposal costs,” said Mr Wilson.
“Recycling wood pallets that can no longer be repaired is excellent, not only for my business but also for the environment,” said Rob James. He estimates that the cost of recycling reduces cost by about 75% compared to disposal.
“Recycling also has an environmental benefit,” said Mitchell. “We estimate that for each tonne of timber packaging diverted from landfill, about 679 kg of carbon dioxide emissions are avoided.”
Stephen Mitchell and Rob James will be speaking at the seminar, as will representatives from Australian Native Landscapes and SoilCo, which also recycle waste pallets and timber off-cuts in CentralCoast, Sydney and Wollongong. Elizabeth Craggs from the NSW EPA will speak on the regulatory aspects of timber recycling and recently announced NSW Government initiative to provide funds for recycling by NSW communities and businesses.
The free seminars are supported by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority.