Potential resources of post-consumer wood waste in Poland

This article presents the results of studies, whose aim was to determine the volume of post-consumer wood waste resources in Poland and propose a calculation method. The methodical approach applied is based on the concept of life cycle of final wood products, including a system of indices describing rotation of these products and their average useful life. The study revealed that in 2013 potential amount of post-consumer wood waste in Poland was 6.5 million m³, which was 17% of wood removals and approximately 19% of consumption (the amount of processed wood originating from Polish forests). The post-consumer wood resources were composed of waste from worn-out final wood products predominantly made of: sawnwood (approximately 83%), wood-based materials (9%), and roundwood (8%). This waste can potentially be created in many sectors of the economy, while construction is the primary producer (64% of the hypothetical volume of post-consumer wood waste resources). When considered by product types, the largest base of post-consumer wood waste consisted of worn-out wooden windows and doors (15%).