COMMENT/IN THIS ISSUE INDUSTRY NEWS Editorial comment O


n 25 June, I was sent the latest statistics produced by the Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA), which showed that overall UK exports of waste wood biomass and panel board feedstock dropped by 50% last year compared to 2016. The trade body carried out an annual survey of its members, which also showed a large increase in the use of waste wood within the UK. The WRA estimates there remains an estimated five million tonnes of waste wood available for recycling and recovery in the UK. Of this, 3.7 million tonnes is recycled or reprocessed, of which 3.2 million tonnes is handled by WRA members.


The survey showed 1.7 million tonnes went to UK biomass plants in 2017, compared to 1.6 million in 2016. A further 1.7 million tonnes was recycled or reused into products, including animal bedding, UK panel board feedstock and landscaping and equestrian surfaces. These applica- tions were estimated to account for 1.4 million tonnes in 2016. The remaining 300,000 tonnes was exported as biomass or panel board feedstock. This compared to 600,000 tonnes in 2016. Andy Hill, Chair of the trade body which represents 86% of the waste wood market, said WRA members alone had seen a growth of 38% in UK panel board and a 53% growth in UK biomass, which was good for the economy.


However, he reiterated a previous warning of potential impending waste wood shortages if recyclers and reprocessors face storage issues over the Summer months. He pointed out that it had been a long Winter over 2017-18 and this had given the waste wood industry a slow start to the year in terms of the volumes of waste wood available. It is now predicted that the market will gather pace over the Summer and recyclers will be able to build up their stock levels ready for the peak off-take next Winter.


He stressed that it was crucial for recyclers to store quantities of mate- rial over the Summer and urged the UK Environment Agency to look very carefully at each individual situation, so if sites are able to satisfy the necessary health and safety requirements, then they should be allowed to store larger quantities of materials.


David Young Editor


FOREST BIOENERGY REVIEW Volume 8, Number 38 – Summer 2018 Contact information


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EVENTS Conferences and exhibitions past and future


Front cover: In Metsä Group’s new bioproduct mill, every single bit of the wood raw material and production side streams are utilised – see page 12.


Summer 2018 1 1 18 18 INDUSTRY NEWS


What’s happening in the world of forest bioenergy? AEBIOM


RED II sets the first Europe-wide sustainability criteria for solid biomass


PELLETS Mass and energy balance of torrefied biomass in question 6 In this issue 2 2 5


9 PORTS AND TERMINALS


Biomass at Amsterdam, Goole and Liverpool BIOPRODUCT MILL


The next generation FOREST-BASED BIOPRODUCTS


Bio-on opens production plant EQUIPMENT REVIEW


Introducing new equipment and services 16 17 9 12


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