Roaringtrade

Recyclers do a roaring trade in firewood

(but economic slowdown means wood is in short supply)

Sally Parker, Alan Whear, Jo White of Co-operative Futures, Tom Walker, Ed Brand and Paul Mewton

A Wiltshire company that recycles unwanted wood from building sites is doing such a roaring trade in firewood and kindling that it needs to find more suppliers.

Wiltshire Wood Recycling creates a wide range of products from unwanted wood from building sites and other industries, whilst turning uncraftable wood like pallets into firewood and kindling, which is sold from the company’s north Wiltshire base and in shops throughout the area.

Now economic conditions have affected the company in two ways: the slowdown in the housing market means fewer building sites and less raw materials to be recycled at a time when spiralling gas prices means homeowners are looking for a cheaper alternative.

Director Ed Brand, who founded the not-for-profit community interest company in 2006, said: “Wiltshire Wood Recycling provides an environmentally friendly and cheaper alternative to skips for builders.

“We take the wood away in our gas-powered van, sort and grade it and sell it on or turn it into something useful.

“We make garden stores, composters – examples of which can be seen at the household recycling centre at Stanton household recycling centre in North Wiltshire – chicken coops, tables and benches. Our recycled coffins means customers can continue to be ethical and green even after they die!

“Low quality wood is chopped up and sold as firewood or kindling. At worst it is chipped. Every scrap is used and very little ends up in landfill.

“But the lack of activity in the building trade has hit us hard. New build houses are our best source of good quality wood and scaffolding planks. Although we have deals to recycle the wood from sites owned by major house builders like Crest Nicholson, we also need to reach independent building firms operating on smaller sites.”

The company will collect wood from building sites in a 25-mile radius of its base at Castle Combe, which includes Swindon and towns in North and West Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds.

Despite the economic downturn, the company plans to grow in 2009. Co-operative Futures, a business consultancy set up and partly funded by the Midcounties Co-operative Limited, is helping Wiltshire Wood Recycling revise its business strategy, having advised the company on its formation as a community interest company – a social enterprise working for the good of the community, using their assets and profits for public good.

To find out more about Wiltshire Wood Recycling log on to www.wiltshirewoodrecycling.org.uk or call 01249 783499. Anyone interested in starting or growing a business that is a co-operative or community owned enterprise can contact Co-operative Futures on 0845 456 2506 or at info@co-operativefutures.coop

Top of page