Timberpak opens recycling super site in Leeds

Officially opened on Friday August 18 by local MP for Leeds Central, Hilary Benn, the site will process 150,000 tonnes of recycled material per year, with potential for this to increase by 50% as the demand for wood-based recycled material continues.

Waste wood sourced by Timberpak is used by EGGER (UK) Ltd to produce carbon negative chipboard panels at its production sites in Hexham, Northumberland and Barony, East Ayrshire.

The international wood-based material manufacturer has invested over £30m into its UK recycling operations over the last two years. In addition to the new Timberpak sites in Leeds, EGGER recently commissioned a new recycling plant at its Hexham site with the aim of increasing the recycled content in its panels by improving the quality of the processed recycled material used.

Perfectly located on the edge of Leeds, the new site offers the best wood recycling facilities in the UK. The bespoke loading pit offers safe and efficient loading, and a streamlined layout of the shredders, picking stations, one-way traffic management system and stock system will reduce handling time.

Four new jobs will be created on the picking line, and this is set to increase in parallel with demand for recycled wood. Currently, Timberpak employs 90 people with 40% of them based at the existing Leeds site.

The state-of-the-art site features the latest recycling technology, including two picking lines, a slow speed electric shredder, and a stockpiling system. Two new weighbridges and a loading bay have been installed, and weight tickets and delivery documents will be paperless.

A sustainable approach has been taken at every opportunity; this includes 1,282m2 of 265kw solar panels across the roof of the main building, and a dust suppression system. Health and safety is top priority for the site, which has thermal cameras for stock heat control and a one-way traffic management system.

“We are delighted to have commissioned our new site,” said Mark Hayton, director, Timberpak. “Not only will it increase our capacity and future proof our business, but it will further improve the high quality customers service we pride ourselves on.

“The investment reinforces our commitment to make more from wood and it will benefit generations to come by continuing to store the carbon absorbed by the recycled wood during its growth.

“A huge thank you to everyone who has been involved in the project. Between us we have created an industry leading wood recycling processing site.”