In order to disseminate waste management information across the industry, the
Business Solutions Group at TRADA Technology has developed a free industry resource,
the Timber Recycling Information Centre, accessed via the internet at www.recycle-it.org.
The project is funded by Biffaward and TRADA and is being developed through
the Timber Industry Environment-tal Trust.
TRADA technologies views the website as a significant opportunity for the industry
to improve its approaches to the sustainable use of timber. “Waste management
is an integral part of purchasing,” says project manager Phil Becker. “It’s
no good buying PEFC or FSC-approved products and then not making the effort
to reduce the amount of timber thrown away. It has been estimated that up to
40 per cent of these products end up as waste.”
But as well as being a valuable industry tool, www.recycle-it.org will be a
practical educational resource providing a direct link between the timber industry
and education. Stan Terry is project co-ordinator and a product of HTI Leadership,
a not-for-profit organisation which aims to improve links and understanding
between industry and education by placing senior educational managers in business
placements for up to 12 months.
He explains: “The Timber Recycling Information Centre will link into both
primary and secondary schools and provide information that can be used by teachers
and students as part of the National Curriculum Key Stages one to five. The
site will utilise real life examples from timber-using industries to help curriculum
progress. Development meetings with teachers at all key stages have already
taken place and their advice is being incorporated into the website design.