Page 24 - Green knowledge 2025

Photo: Kathrine Torday Gulden
54 tonnes of waste wood show reuse potential
Each year, large quantities of wood are discarded in Norway. How much of it could have
been given a new life? Researchers in CircWOOD have investigated this by analysing 54
tonnes of post-consumer wood from three recycling stations in Eastern Norway and
Trøndelag.
“Every single piece was sorted and assessed by type
and quality,” says Kristina Bringedal Gedde, PhD
candidate at NIBIO and NTNU. The aim was to
determine how much of the material is suitable for
reuse or material recycling – either by being used
again as is or turned into new products.
The results show significant potential. At two indus-
trial recycling stations, between 49 and 64 percent of
the wood was structural timber or other untreated
solid wood – materials that can, in principle, be used
again.
At the household recycling station, the proportion
was lower, around 32 percent. A clear trend is that
wood from households tends to be of lower quality
than industrial waste.
lead paint, all of which cannot safely be used in new
products without posing risks to health and the envi-
ronment.
The researchers also encountered challenges with
incorrectly sorted pressuretreated wood containing
heavy metals, fibreboard, and wood painted with
“This highlights an important area for improvement:
better information and sorting systems for waste
wood,” says Gedde.
Today, most used wood in Norway is sent for energy
recovery through incineration. This produces energy,
but the material resource is lost.
“By reusing more of the old wood, we can extend the
lifespan of our resources and reduce the need for
new, primary timber, which may become scarce in
the future,” Gedde emphasises.
She believes there is considerable potential to make
better use of waste wood – especially from industry
– but this requires improved sorting, more knowl-
edge and new systems.
Purpose: Collaboration: Funding: Contact: To identify the types of post-consumer wood delivered to Norwegian recycling stations and assess
how much is suitable for reuse or material recycling.
Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology and Norwegian University of Science and Technology
CircWOOD (The Research Council of Norway, Green Platform scheme)
PhD Candidate Kristina Bringedal Gedde, Division of Forest and Forest Resources.
Email: kristina.gedde@nibio.no | Phone: +47 415 10 934
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