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Waste wood 'the untapped' biomass fuel resource

17 April 2008

Reusing waste wood as fuel could produce real benefits from the climate, environment minister Joan Ruddock has said.

The Waste Wood Information report on producers, aggregators and users of waste wood in the sector found 'significant' carbon and energy benefits from recovering energy from waste wood.

Waste wood is a largely overlooked resource, the government said.

Up to ten million tonnes of waste wood produced in the UK each year, most of which goes to landfill.

Joan Ruddock, climate change minister, said: "It has been estimated that recovering energy from two million tonnes of waste wood could generate 2600GWh electricity and save 1.15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, with greater benefits available by recovering heat as well as power.

"This is a huge potential resource that is being wasted."

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