Increasing government pressure is forcing the wood industry to find ways to recover and reuse end-of-life products. Concern about treated timber has been heightened by data showing significant quantities of waste timber are being disposed of, and a belief that treated timber is a significant barrier to increased recycling.
New research appears to have established a process for safe incineration of CCA-treated wood - a breakthrough of potentially huge significance in the battle to reduce landfill. The process uses activated carbon in the incineration process to act as an absorbant for the gases emitted by the treated wood.
A special feature on a great New Zealand sawmilling renaissance and plant expansion. The newly opened planer mill at Red Stag Timber in Rotorua is set to increase output by more than 50% and the company is already planning further expansion.
A leading architect believes building in timber provides an element of craft for the profession not possible with other building materials. He is urging the timber industry to look at establishing an ‘eldership’ system where experienced timber people can pass on their knowledge to young building designers.
A review of the East Coast Forestry Project in New Zealand shows treatment of erosion-prone land is well short of target, with potentially serious consequences. If another cyclone, similar in strength to Cyclone Bola which hit eighteen years ago, it is likely that devastation in the area would still be on a comparable scale.
Some big players have pulled the rug from under Australia’s ‘blue pine’ termite protection campaign. The campaign hit the wall when support was lost from Carter Holt Harvey and Weyerhaeuser – both companies being embroiled in business and management restructuring.
