Wood is one of the world’s most versatile and attractive materials, but what happens to it once it’s no longer needed? Large quantities of wood are sent to landfill every year, but these sites produce harmful greenhouse gases which have a negative effect on our environment.
Recycling wood, on the other hand, is low cost, environmentally friendly and it can be used in a variety of creative, useful ways. If you’re looking to make some changes to your home and want to know what recycled wood can be used for, see below for some stylish ideas.
Furniture
Recycled wood (also called reclaimed wood) can be used to create a variety of beautiful furniture pieces, including tables, chairs, shelves and bookcases. This material is a great choice for anyone looking to make more eco-friendly purchases and you can be sure that each piece is completely unique. Reclaimed wood furniture looks particularly at home in rustic-style properties or in the garden.
Flooring
Reclaimed wooden flooring looks stunning and the aged, lived-in effect is very popular amongst many homeowners. The material can come from interesting sources too, including railways and buildings that are centuries old.
Garden planters
If you fancy a spot of DIY, try using recycled wood to build a garden planter. Old pallets and packing crates are ideal and you can often pick them up for free, or a very low price. Try asking supermarkets or furniture shops to see if they have any old wood going spare, or look on sites like eBay and Gumtree.
Children’s playgrounds
Reclaimed wood is a great material for children’s playground equipment, including swings, climbing frames and more. Wood is durable, safe and environmentally friendly and you can use logs, planks and even tree stumps. Recycled bark chippings are often used too, to create a safe, soft surface in children’s play areas.
Biomass energy
Wood can also be recycled into biomass energy to produce heat or electricity. The recycled wood is converted into energy using direct combustion or gasification and wood accounts for around 44% of all biomass energy. Biomass is considered a form of renewable energy, making it much better for the planet.
If you’re in need of efficient wood waste recycling in Newcastle-under-Lyme, get in touch with the team at Cherry Hill Waste. We take our environmental duties seriously, which is why we aim to recycle 90% of all wood and green waste we collect. Choose our green skip hire for a convenient, environmentally friendly solution to your wood waste and prevent it being sent to landfill. Our services are suitable for both domestic and commercial customers, so give us a call today or contact us online to find out more.