THE WOOD RECYCLERS ASSOCIATION is calling for roofing contractors to share the results of waste wood testing with them.

Vicki Hughes, WRA Technical Lead, said, “We’re calling on roofing contractors and roofers to ask the laboratories they use to share their waste wood test results with the WRA. Then we can get the evidence together to prove whether these items are hazardous or not. With that evidence we can then ask for those items to be reclassified which will mean they can be accepted by our members into the normal wood recycling supply chain.”

The Association is planning to hold extra webinar training sessions over the following two weeks for roofing contractors and installers to find out more about the waste wood rules affecting them. It will explain how to get samples tested and ask labs to share the results with the WRA, and get answers to any specific questions.

Dates for the webinars in the next two weeks have not yet been set but will be available on the Wood Recyclers Association website from Friday 22 September.

Waste Wood Rules

The waste wood rules changed on 1 September, with the removal of Regulatory Position Statement 250 (RPS 250). It means potentially hazardous ‘amber’ waste items from buildings constructed between the years 1950-2007 can no longer be processed as non-hazardous, unless samples are sent for testing to prove its status.

The waste wood items from buildings constructed between the years 1950-2007 which will need testing are: barge boards, external fascia, soffit boards, roof timber, cladding battens, ‘tiling’ battens, timber frames, external joinery, external doors and timber joists.

The RPS250 waste wood rule change is already causing problems for roofers who have faced skips being denied to them or extra charges being imposed.

However, if the WRA receives the test results from 300 samples of the waste wood items it can the Environment Agency to reconsider their classification as hazardous.

Share Testing Results

Roofing firms will need to send for testing one 150+mm long sample in airtight packaging from each wood type found on a project. It can then be analysed to find out if it is non-hazardous meaning it can be taken away by skip companies and disposed of in the normal way.

Guidance on the process for sending samples is available in the WRA’s Toolkit for Withdrawal of RPS 250.

The WRA is updating information specifically for contractors and installers and has also produced a video explaining the next steps for waste wood testing.

Vicki continues, “It’s important that contractors ask the laboratory they use to test to WRA02, which is a cheaper test and just for the affected waste wood items. It’s also important that they ask the laboratory to then share the results with WRA, so that we can gather together the evidence needed.”

“If waste wood is obviously treated with creosote or bitumen, it does not need testing as this is already a known hazardous treatment.

Vicki added, “I’ve received many calls from installers and contractors. We’re trying to help where we can with any specific problems, signposting people to labs, and offering practical solutions.”

The WRA can be contacted by email on director@woodrecylers.org.

>>Read more about the withdrawal of RPS 250 in the news

The post Waste Wood Update – WRA Calls for Roofers to Share Test Results appeared first on Roofing Today.