Polish wood industry seeks legal changes to reduce waste

The Polish wood industry is facing challenges due to unclear legal regulations regarding wood waste and by-products. According to a report by Polityka Insight, approximately 1.3 million tons of wood waste and wood-based materials are generated in Poland annually.

Industry representatives, including Waldemar Zawiślak of EGGER Biskupiec, have noted that materials such as dust produced during the manufacturing of wood-based boards could be effectively utilized for energy production or other technological processes. However, current legal classifications often treat these valuable materials as waste rather than by-products, necessitating costly transport and disposal processes.

To support a circular economy, the industry is calling for legislative changes to define these materials as by-products. On July 31, parliamentary committees for Deregulation and Environmental Protection, Natural Resources, and Forestry reviewed a draft addressing the legal and procedural barriers that limit the recycling of wood and wood-based waste.