TIMBER


graded batten is disheartening,” he says. “It means product is being sent out to site that isn’t fit for purpose in the first place. It goes to highlight the importance of understanding the grading process and what makes a batten conform to BS 5534” he adds.


If substandard batten is being shipped to the UK, merchants and suppliers need to be alert to recognise when stock isn’t up to standard. Similarly, roofers should always inspect the battens when they are delivered to ensure they are compliant with the standard by checking all the correct product marking is in place, including the BS 5534 stamp and the stamp of the accrediting organisation. Roofers should also check for damage and naturally occurring defects, split ends, and that as a minimum, the batten’s thickness is over 25mm, with the width being at least 47mm for 50mm batten and 35mm for 38mm batten.


While all businesses work to maintain and, where possible, to increase margins it may be tempting to opt for cheaper roofing batten when it is offered. However, ultimately this is likely to cost more in the end with both financial and reputational risk associated with using substandard product.


It would only take a single batten failure to have serious consequences for the whole industry. The best way for merchants to check they are purchasing a correct graded batten is to make the simple checks suggested earlier in this article on dimensions etc and to purchase from a reputable supplier. BMJ


REDUCE PLASTIC:


AVOID HIGHER TAXES New packaging waste regulations aim to help encourage the use of recycled materials and reduce the use of plastics. David Hopkins, CEO of Timber Development UK, explains what this means for timber merchants.


T


ransporting products from the manufacturer or importer to the timber and builders’ merchant often requires


them to be wrapped in packaging to ensure safe delivery and reduce the wastage caused by damaged goods. Timber products, for example, are often wrapped in plastic to keep them safe and dry during transport, and yet this packaging is often simply discarded once the goods have arrived, making plastic packaging throughout the construction industry a major contributor to waste production in the UK.


Plastic waste pollution reaching the oceans has increased tenfold since 1980, and reports suggest the annual flow of plastic into the ocean could triple by 2040 unless major steps are taken to reduce the use of plastic. For this reason, the government has introduced major changes to legislation in an attempt to incentivise companies to make more sustainable choices in their use of packaging, such as reuse and recycling.


As part of our work to support our members as the largest timber supply chain body in the UK, we have commissioned an in-depth report to help our members get to grips with what these changes mean for them. A new Plastic Packaging Tax has already been introduced. Since 1 April 2022, producers or importers of plastic packaging that contains less than 30% recycled plastic will be taxed an additional £200 per tonne. This tax applies to all business importing or manufacturing 10 tonnes or more of finished plastic packaging components within a 12- month period, with penalties being applied to businesses that fail to comply.


Above: Measuring the dimensions of a batten will reveal whether it has been correctly graded. This example is clearly outside the tolerances allowed in the British Standard


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Any business that manufactures or imports more than 10-tonnes of finished plastic packaging must account for and pay the tax every quarter. Businesses that import or


manufacture less than 10 tonnes of taxable packaging over a 12-month period must still keep detailed records to prove to HMRC they do not quality for the tax.


Reforms to the Producer Responsibility (Packaging Waste) Regulations expected in 2024 will also see more businesses coming under the scheme’s rules and facing a greater proportion of the costs that arise from dealing with and disposing of packaging waste. Businesses with a turnover equal to, or greater than, £1 million, and which handle packaging quantities of 25 tonnes or more will now need to complete bi-annual reporting on the amount of packaging their place on the market. The government currently recovers 7% of the costs of recycling packaging waste, and is seeking to recover 100%.


Businesses can mitigate the costs from these changes by making use of easily recycled packaging, recovering packaging waste themselves, using non-plastic packaging alternatives, or through the use of reusable packaging.


The full TDUK report ‘The current and prospective packaging waste regulations: As they apply to the timber trade’, is free for download from the Timber Development UK website. BMJ


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net August 2022


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