Product stewardship of waste timber packaging project has been started by tda nsw. This project is started in three australian states and the rates will be lowest for waste timber recycling. At present, a large quantity of oneuse low quality timber crates and pallets is disposed at the landfill. This also includes packaging of goods imported in australia. There is an overall opinion that all imported timber packaging is &39treated&39. Businesses and even state environmental protection regulators often believe that this means is treated with copper chromium arsenate cca.
This project includes testing the samples of timber packaging at landfills for the presence of copper, arsenic, chromium, and other elements. Samples are being tested from the recyclers in western australia, queensland and new south wales, as well. Handheld xray fluorescence xrf analyzer is being used to conduct the test. Until now, over 100 samples of waste timber packaging are screened by tda nsw. During this screening, tda nsw has come across only one palette, which had been built with cca treated timber. Furthermore, the palette had a stamp of the natural cosmetics company.
The project is taken on behalf of the national timber product stewardship group. This project will be helpful for the companies, which are using waste timber packaging. It will help them to reply epa and community concerns about the environmental impact and quality of product. This is likely to be of particular use to particleboard manufacturers, biomass fuel and users mulch producers. Source of information httpwww.tdansw.asn.aunewstdahelpingrecyclewastetimberpackaging