A new body has been formed to look after the interests of wood recycling companies and suppliers of machinery/ equipment into the wood recycling sector.

Nine UK companies have already joined its ranks although overseas members would also be welcomed, according to Rick Wilcox, secretary of the Wood Recyclers Association (WRA).

The WRA will be based at Brampton in Cambridgeshire alongside long-established metals and textile recycling associations. Michael Tracey of Linwood-based Tracey Timber Recycling Ltd has been named as the WRA’s first chairman, while Geoff Hadfield of Droylsden-based Hadfield Wood Recyclers becomes deputy chairman.

Mr Wilcox told TTJ that the WRA’s priorities included promotion of the wood recycling sector in general, improved wood recycling statistics, packaging waste regulations and liaison with the government’s Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

With an initial budget of £30m, this programme has identified wood as one of four areas for possible stimulation of recycling activity. Mr Wilcox said: ‘One area we will look at with WRAP will be development of new markets for recycled wood.’

A WRA website providing information on wood recycling is also planned.