Sort timber by condition and treatment before choosing reuse or disposal. Never burn unknown painted, preserved, laminated or treated wood.

Sort categories

• sound reusable lengths and boards;
• clean untreated offcuts;
• painted/coated or engineered wood;
• preservative-treated outdoor timber;
• contaminated, rotten or nail-heavy material.

Receiving sites define categories differently. Provide photos and disclose paint, preservatives, adhesives and previous use.

Reuse

Reuse is realistic when timber is sound, dimensions are useful, contamination is absent and storage/transport does not cost more than the material’s value. Remove or clearly mark protruding fixings safely.

Collection

Ask whether streams must be separate, whether pallets/fencing/railway sleepers are treated differently, and how weight/volume is charged. Do not advertise unknown structural timber for a safety-critical use.

FAQs

Can painted and untreated wood travel together?

Possibly, but it can reduce recovery options. Confirm the facility’s categories.

When is reuse realistic?

When condition, treatment, dimensions and intended non-hazardous use are known.

Suggested component

Use a Timber Route Sorter based on condition and known treatment, with “unknown: specialist check” as a result.

Related guides

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