The Project was set up in February 1998 to try to reclaim and reuse the vast quantity of timber presently being needlessly burnt or landfilled. It is estimated that around 6,000 tonnes of wood is wasted annually from the Brighton & Hove area alone. Once separated from the waste stream, much of it is reusable in some way.
 

This waste wood varies enormously in quality, size and condition, but when sorted, de-nailed and prepared, some of it can be sold back into the building/DIY market. Some of it can be used to produce a whole range of products for sale.

Much of the remainder can be chipped for chipboard manufacture, compost or boiler fuel, or simply used as kindling and firewood. Only heavily contaminated timber would need to be landfilled - a great improvement on the present situation.
 

The Project has been set up as a not-for-profit company, and aims to be financially self- supporting. At present most of our income is generated through collections of "waste" wood from building sites, for which the builder pays us less than the cost of putting it into a skip; so there is a financial as well as an environmental incentive. We also sell wood to the public and on the 15^th of March 1999, we are opening the world's first outlet dedicated to selling "waste" timber. In time, any "profits" we do make will be reinvested or given in grants/loans to other local environmental projects.

In addition, volunteers from all walks of life can develop their practical skills with us in a worthwhile and supportive environment - knowing they are helping to address the important and pressing issue of the long-term management of our waste.
 

The Project has already received many tonnes of timber destined for the landfill site - and more arrives each week. Much of this timber has been successfully reused!

Given the increasing strength of environmental legislation and growing public awareness and concern over waste, we are sure that the Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project will be a valuable part of a local waste minimisation strategy and a model for similar schemes nationwide.