Shredded Waste Wood Uses and Recycling in the UK: Regulations, Benefits, and Opportunities

In the UK, millions of tonnes of waste wood are generated every year from construction, demolition, manufacturing, pallets, packaging, and household clearances. For many businesses, this creates a challenge: how do you dispose of bulky, difficult-to-manage wood responsibly and cost-effectively?

At MacGroup, we believe shredded waste wood isn’t a problem, it’s a resource. With the right treatment, wood that would otherwise go to landfill can support renewable energy, sustainable manufacturing, landscaping, and even agriculture.

What Can Shredded Waste Wood Be Used For?

The potential applications are wide-ranging. Here are the most common uses in the UK today:

1. Biomass & Renewable Energy

• A major market for shredded waste wood.

• Lower-grade or mixed wood can be converted into fuel for biomass power stations, CHP plants, and industrial boilers.

• By displacing fossil fuels like coal and gas, wood fuel reduces carbon emissions and supports the UK’s net zero targets.

2. Panel Board Manufacturing

• Clean, uncontaminated shredded wood is a feedstock for chipboard, MDF, and OSB.

• Using recycled wood reduces demand for virgin timber and saves energy in processing (recycled wood is typically drier).

3. Animal Bedding

• Screened fine chips provide absorbent, comfortable bedding for horses, poultry, and small animals.

• This offers farmers and pet owners a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to straw or sawdust.

4. Landscaping & Surfacing

• Wood chips are widely used as mulch to suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, and regulate soil temperature.

• They’re also used in playgrounds, equestrian arenas, footpaths, and park trails.

• Coloured wood chip is increasingly popular in landscaping projects for a decorative finish.

5. Soil Improvement

• When blended into compost, shredded wood adds carbon and improves soil structure.

• It’s particularly valuable in land restoration and horticulture projects.

6. On-Site Fuel & Heating

• Many joinery firms, sawmills, and agricultural businesses now shred and reuse their own wood waste in biomass boilers, cutting energy bills and reducing waste disposal costs.

  
  

Key Constraints & Challenges

While the opportunities are significant, businesses need to be aware of a few constraints:

• Contamination Matters Not all waste wood is the same. Painted, treated, or chemically preserved wood (e.g. with creosote or CCA) may be classed as hazardous and is unsuitable for uses like animal bedding, compost, or landscaping.

• Quality Grading The UK classifies waste wood into grades (A–D). Each grade has specific permitted applications – e.g. Grade A clean wood for panel board or bedding, Grade C mixed wood for biomass fuel.

• Moisture & Particle Size Different end uses require different chip sizes and moisture levels. Oversized pieces may need reprocessing, while fine particles might only be suitable for compost or bedding.

• Logistics & Storage Wood is bulky and can be costly to transport. Effective local processing and safe storage are essential to keep projects viable. Fire prevention is also a major factor when storing shredded wood.

  
  

Regulations You Need to Know

Handling shredded waste wood in the UK isn’t just about finding a buyer, it’s about compliance. Key considerations include:

• T6 Waste Exemption In England, if you’re shredding or chipping waste wood for uses like mulch, fuel, or panel board feedstock, you may need to register a T6 exemption with the Environment Agency.

• Hazardous Wood Controls Since 2023, stricter rules apply to wood waste from certain demolition and construction sources (e.g. structural timbers, fencing, railway sleepers). These must be tested and may require specialist disposal routes.

• Fire Prevention Plans Businesses handling significant volumes of shredded wood need fire prevention measures in place to meet Environment Agency and Health & Safety Executive requirements.

Staying compliant not only protects your business but also ensures waste wood is channelled into safe and sustainable uses.

Why It Matters

Every tonne of wood that’s recycled instead of landfilled reduces greenhouse gas emissions, supports renewable energy, and conserves natural resources. For businesses, it can also cut disposal costs and open new revenue streams.

At MacGroup, we help businesses across the UK unlock these benefits, managing wood responsibly, efficiently, and sustainably.

Take Action

If your business generates waste wood, or if you’re interested in sourcing shredded wood for biomass, bedding, landscaping, or manufacturing, we can help.

Contact our friendly team today to discuss solutions tailored for you or your business on 024 7666 6888 or info@macgroup.co.uk

Together, let’s make waste wood work harder, for your business and for the planet.