By Rubina Obaid
www.asianbiomass.com
According to the latest survey conducted by Wood Recycler Association that revealed the data about the waste of wood processed in the UK has increased by six percent, which was previously 3.98 million tonnes in the year 2019. The figures released earlier this week shows a significant rise in processed waste wood over the past 10 years.
The waste resulted from wood processing industries is burned directly to generate heat and electricity. Large boilers are used to burn waste wood and the steam is produced, which is then used to spin a large turbine. These turbines use generators to produce clean electricity or biomass-based electricity. The waste wood is obtained from wood industries that greatly depends upon the diameter of logs, type of saw, specifications, and the skill of workers who process them. Non-food based biomass contributes to producing second-generation biofuels (ethanol) from cellulosic biomass and poplar trees. Now, it is more important than ever to switch towards sustainable renewable energy sources which are environment friendly too because of the global chaotic situation. The environmental activists proclaim that human activities have negatively interacted with the natural bio-diversity over the years, hence the time has come for us to face the music.
Therefore, the environmentalists have declared the impending climate emergency and pushed the nations to take preemptive measures for active transition towards safe energy sources. According to the latest survey conducted by Wood Recycler Association that revealed the data about the waste of wood processed in the UK has increased by six percent that was previously 3.98 million tonnes in the year 2019. The figures released earlier this week shows a significant rise in processed waste wood over the past 10 years. In 2011, the figure of processed waste wood was 2.8 million tonnes and later it perpetually rose to 3.75 million tonnes in 2018. The latest statistics also revealed the data for the increased consumption of biomass feedstock that has been used for the production of clean energy which rose by 14 percent to 2.39 million tonnes last year.
The Executive Director of the WRA, Julia Turner said that, ” We hope that such a healthy end to 2019 will stand us in good stead for surviving the impact of COVID-19, and are thrilled to see that with an estimated 4.5 million tonnes of waste wood available in the UK, so much of it is now being recycled or reprocessed.” The survey also reflected the total figure for the UK waste wood sector is mainly dependent upon the member of WRA, which represents 90 percent of the UK wood recycling sector. Turner further added that, “We suspect there is a correlation between the decrease in waste wood being processed into animal bedding and the increase into panel board and small scale biomass, as both of these use grade A packaging. We are also seeking a realization of imports of waste wood starting and estimate around 20,000 tonnes came into the UK last year and we expect it to grow this year.” On the contrary, where COVID 19 has massively impacted numerous business sectors it has also affected and hurt the waste wood industry sector and left it in a very crucial situation because of the obstacles in supply chain incurred due to the closure of other relevant industries.
Reference links:
https://resource.co/article/waste-wood-processing-rises-six-cent-2019
