Re-cycling MDF

[Zeddedhed]

I've got to that stage again where I've got loads of offcuts of MDF - plain vanilla Medite of almost all known thicknesses and some veneered bits - Walnut, maple and Oak.

I'm loath to burn it (it stinks to high heaven and sooner or later the neighbours will complain).

If I load it onto my van and take it to the tip they'll charge me an arm and a leg.

I don't have time to sort it through and list it in any kind of useful way for people to collect it (free).

Does anyone know of either:

a. A charity that collects timber etc for charity/community works?
b. A company that collects it or will allow delivery for re-cycling?

In the Tunbridge Wells area obviously.

Or, does someone want to come and get it ALL. If anyone is interested I'll take some photos.

 

[NazNomad]

Does the tip charge purely because you have a van?

If so, bag it up, park outside, walk it in.

 

[davin]

have a day out in Brighton and take it here...
The wood store Brighton.

http://www.woodrecycling.org.uk/#!collections/cb3i

Or if you have any large piles of expensive hardwood you could drop it off to me on the way!

 

[Jacob]

burns very nicely and doesn't smell if not plastic coated.

 

[Zeddedhed]

burns very nicely and doesn't smell if not plastic coated.

Either your nose has stopped working or you have different MDF oop north.

Every time I burn it if I go outside it absolutely stinks. I can get away with chucking a few fiddly bits on a very hot fire now and again but otherwise it smells like someone's burning tyres.

 

[Jacob]

I burn it in a stove. It smoulders away nice and cleanly like Phurnacite and doesn't pong at all. Chipboard too. Maybe no good in an open fire? I don't know.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Same here - loads of chipboard and MDF in a stove. We've never noticed a bad smell, nor have the neighbours.

 

[davin]

It does burn hot (as does plywood) but it's all that nasty formaldehyde, not good for us or the planet.
I don't pay business rates for my unit (so the council won't collect), and the private waste collection rates are outrageous, and as I can't
take my van to the tip either I get the wife to fill the car up with offcuts smile sweetly and dump them at the tip.

 

[Jelly]

Due to the vast quantities of Thermosetting resin in it, MDF is not considered recycleable... The nearest you get is shredding it for RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) which would still attract a gate fee.

If burned a little at a time in a hot stove with good airflow, it ought to be fine but... With poor airflow or insufficient heat it will stink to high heaven.

 

[MrYorke]

I too have loads every month and take it to the tip and put it in the wood waste bin (that's what they've told me to do) so I'm hoping it gets recycled somehow.

Please please don't burn it. It's toxic stuff when it is. No good for anyone or our planet!! Hopefully the toxic smoke isn't blowing in to little johnie's bedroom next door when he's sleeping potentially causing all sorts of problems

 

[Peter Sefton]

I never burn it in the workshop stoves, hate the smell and enjoy living to much.

Cheers Peter

 

[Zeddedhed]

So some of us think it smells and some don't. Interesting indeed.

To be honest I'd far rather it was re-purposed into something useful without releasing any toxins into the atmosphere. I'm pretty sure that all wood waste from our local tip is incinerated elsewhere to provide heat/power if some sort but I question how 'green' a practice this really is.

I think I'll check out Davins suggestion. It'd probably work out no more expensive to take a half day trip to Brighton than paying the tip fees in Tunbridge Wells.

 

[Jacob]

Anybody want to dump mdf or chipboard just give us a call. Or any other wood waste for that matter. We'll either recycle it or burn it. No plastics.

 

[Jacob]

.....I'm pretty sure that all wood waste from our local tip is incinerated elsewhere to provide heat/power if some sort but I question how 'green' a practice this really is.......

100% green. Zero carbon footprint, assuming the original timber source is managed and not from once only clear felling.

 

[lurker]

Please please don't burn it. It's toxic stuff when it is. No good for anyone or our planet!!

And your evidence for this is?

 

[MrYorke]

Please please don't burn it. It's toxic stuff when it is. No good for anyone or our planet!!

And your evidence for this is?

Do I need to provide evidence when the stuff is full of glue? What do you think is given off when burning?

 

[MrYorke]

Plus, it'll stick to your flue. And it burns very hot so could cause damage to your burner.

Are just looking to cause an argument or something? Does my head in when people ask questions like yours. Perhaps there isnt any evidence but just common sense is best

 

[lurker]

Sorry, I don't want to start an arguement and will say no more.

As someone who is daily involved in people's health at work I have a thing about proportionate responses to percieved hazards.

 

[Jacob]

Plus, it'll stick to your flue. And it burns very hot so could cause damage to your burner.

If it's burning hot you close the dampers as you would with any other fuel.
It burns cleanly in my stove, doesn't smell, doesn't stick to the flu.
I don't suppose the smoke is any more toxic than any other sort of smoke. All smoke is toxic (CO2 plus other stuff).
I'd guess that after burning mdf the results are less toxic than if it was left in landfill.
People like scare stories!

PS this morning I am burning horse chestnut and sycamore. The smoke smells strongly (like burning wood) and is highly toxic - we have to have smoke alarms everywhere. Should I take this stuff to the dump instead?

 

[stuartpaul]

Sorry, I don't want to start an arguement and will say no more.

As someone who is daily involved in people's health at work I have a thing about proportionate responses to percieved hazards.

I agree completely.

What is 'common sense' to one isn't to another. Without the requisite evidence how do you know for example that the temperatures involved don't negate the impact of any glue residue?

Does my head in when people ask questions like yours.

And it does my head in when people make statements like yours so we're even then?