Plastic waste? No problem! Your guide to recycled plastic

Timber may be the only renewable building material, but with plastic one of the biggest environmental threats of the modern world, there’s another marvellous variation of plastic that’s helping to change the fate of our planet.

Plastic is among the most relied upon modern inventions, but its use has spiralled out of control. An astonishing 8.3 billion tonnes of virgin plastic has been produced to date, and as of 2015, around 6.3 billion tonnes of this has become non-biodegradable plastic waste.

With the devastating issues – such as human and animal health risks; land, air and water pollution; and food chain infiltration – uncovered in recent years, it’s safe to say we have a big problem. Recycling all this plastic is however revolutionising plastic waste streams as we know it. Below, we share our guide to recycled plastic and ask the question – could this help us enjoy the best of both worlds?

The problem with plastic

Plastic is everywhere. We encounter some form of plastic every hour of every day, from the plastic bottles in our homes and plastic bumpers on our cars to those cheap plastic pens stockpiled on our office desks and the tiny plastic microfibers in our clothes. There’s no getting away from it.

Whatever its use, plastic is non-biodegradable. Unlike timber, paper and food, plastic will not easily decompose and subsequently lives on in our environment for hundreds of years. What makes matters worse is that a huge proportion of the plastic produced is single-use, meaning it will just keep accumulating over the decades.

So, how bad is the world’s plastic problem? Plastic endangers the lives of humans and animals; causes land, air, groundwater, and water pollution, and interferes with the food chain. Plastic’s harrowing lifecycle and devastating effects are more apparent in our seas than anywhere else as The Independent explains:

“Not only is this harmful to the environment and the oceans, but it is also harmful to wildlife – where it impacts nearly 700 species in the ocean, and humans.

According to the Ocean Conservancy, plastic has been found in more than 60 per cent of all seabirds and 100 per cent of sea turtle species. Ingesting plastic has life-threatening effects on wildlife – and some of this plastic eventually ends up being digested by humans.”

How recycled plastic can help

Recycled plastic is made from pre- or post-use plastic. Pre-use plastic can be leftovers from industrial processes, whilst post-use plastic is recovered plastic scrap or waste that has been discarded after fulfilling its intended production purpose. What matters is that with recycling, plastic can be given a new purpose.

Recycled plastic is actively reducing the amount of plastic in the waste stream. While the plastic remains non-biodegradable, recycling means it is being diverted from landfill where it would take hundreds of years to decompose and instead reassigned as better solutions across several industries – including the building sector. Recycled plastic is also providing eco solutions for canals, rivers and marinas thanks to its properties. Recycled plastic is waterproof, highly durable and resilient, and easy to drill, cut and shape for example. With this in mind, it makes perfect sense to take advantage of plastic’s properties and put this virtually indestructible material to good use rather than see it damage marine life and the wider planet.

Applications for recycled plastic

With recycled plastic you can get the best of both worlds. It delivers the usability of wood and longevity of plastic, and also limits environmental issues caused by plastic waste.

By repurposing plastic through recycling, new products such as fenders, decking, cladding, bearers, piles, sheet piling, and furniture components can be produced. These new applications ensure that all useless plastic in landfill can be put to a type of service where durability is fundamental.

For further information on how recycled plastic can be used on your project, please click here. Contact us for details and prices.

Tags:

Categories:

Guide to recycling plastics

Ask Joe! Expert industry advice

Unsure which timer is best for your project?

Our timber experts have years of experience and will be able to match the perfect species to your project, as well as provide a quote for sustainable timber at highly competitive prices.

Frequently asked questions

Do you supply timber for domestic uses?

Yes, we supply timber for domestic applications as well as commercial and public constructions. From garden decking to shed cladding, we will be happy to supply smaller deliveries for home use.

Is your timber FSC-certified?

Yes, all timber we supply is FSC or PEFC certified and sourced from independently verified responsibly managed forests. If we can’t find your request in FSC/PEFC certified timber we’ll suggest an alternative that is certified or clearly note that the offer is minimum EUTR.

Where does EcoChoice deliver to?

EcoChoice delivers to construction sites, warehouses and homes across the UK, as long as there’s access and unloading for our trucks.

What are the best timber species for exterior use?

There are many different timber species suitable for exterior use and which is the best for your project depends on your requirements. In general, though, we recommend EkkiGreenheartOpepe and Oak for heavier civil/marine uses. For intermediary external use such as decking, where the timber needs to be both strong and durable but not on the same level as civil engineering (bridgespiling, etc) we usually supply CumaruIpe, Jatoba, and Balau. And for the lighter exterior use where the timber is non-structural such as cladding, we deliver CedarLarchThermowood and others.

Which timber is the most durable?

Durability Class 1 timbers are the most durable. This of course depends on the use (hazard) class they’ll be in service for. For direct ground and water contact such as sleepers, fenders, marine piling, etc, Ekki and Greenheart are known to be the most durable timbers available. For decking and cladding where there’s no direct ground contact (use class 3) there’s a much wider range of timbers such Larch, Cedar, Thermo modified Pine or Ash and others.

What’s the best timber for internal cladding?

Internal cladding, where your timber is not in ground and not exposed to the elements can be classed as either use-class 1 or 2 – in which case most timbers will meet this durability criteria. That is not to say they’ll be the best, since internal environments have lower humidity (moisture) levels than outside. So in these cases, it’s best to go for a kiln-dried timber cladding board as these are more stable and delivered already in lower MC (moisture content) than the usual fresh sawn timbers sent to external applications. A word of caution – as timber reacts to variations in moisture, it’s best to avoid cladding any areas inside your bathroom.

How can I make decking less slippery?

The first thing is to ensure your deck boards are kept clean from leaves and other debris which will, over time, cover the surface and make it more slippery. Grooved boards can be used to improve grip if installed and used perpendicular to traffic, so especially useful in narrow passages and footbridges. Lastly, you can add our Grip-Choice strips: these are a mix of epoxy with aggregates that add gripping ridges to your deck area. Gripchoice is an easy way to make decking less slippery and safer, especially over large areas or where there’s high traffic. We can pre-install Grip-Choice strips for your decking before delivery or ship the strips separately to add to your existing deck’s grooves as a retro-fit solution.

What wood machining services do you offer?

We can offer planing, sawing, drilling and profiling of rough-sawn wood to any profile you require: from handrails to large port fenders.

Can you supply pre-drilled timber?

Yes, we will be happy to provide pre-drilled timber which is tailored to your needs for quick installation, thus saving you valuable time on site.

What cladding profiles do you supply?

We provide a wide range of cladding profiles, including tongue and groove, featheredge and shiplap. You can check the standard profiles here – but we can also match or custom make profiles to suit your specific needs.

Does timber change colour?

Yes, timber is well-known for changing colour over time. Some species can darken quickly right after installation, and like most untreated wood will eventually weather to a beautiful silver-grey. Interior timber is less likely to change colour (depending on conditions), and timber can be stained, painted or treated with UV-resistant oils to reduce colour change.

Do I need to treat exterior timber?

Some timbers such as Oak and Ekki, can withstand the strains of exterior use without any treatment. However, to extend the lifespan and maintain the aesthetic of your wood, we do recommend treating your timber with stains and oils. Pre-treated timber, such as ThermoWood and OrganoWood, are low-maintenance options which are more durable, but can have their life service extended by applying a clean and stain maintenance schedule.

Do I need to treat interior timber?

Depends on what area the timber is being used. For floor joists and timber rafters, it is common to see timber treated, or least very well kiln-dried. Other uses such as flooring may benefit from varnishing while internal timber cladding for decorative purposes shouldn’t require any treatment other than if you want to change its colour with different types of stains or oils.

Where are you based?

We’re based in Cambridge, UK, and coordinate multiple sawmills all over the world to manufacture your order. We then organise delivery with a range of hauliers so that your orders gets to your site on time.

What are the usual decking sizes?

Timber decking is usually 21x140mm or similar. For heavier applications where there’s more load and traffic, we deliver 35 or 45mm thick boards (such as Hastings Pier). Narrower boards are also possible: 95-90mm is a standard width – but we can manufacture whatever size you require.

What are the usual cladding sizes?

Typical cladding section sizes are 18×95 and 18x145mm although we can always custom make a section to suit your project’s design requirements. That includes waney edge boards in Oak or Chestnut as well as extra wide 195mm boards.

Trusted by

What our customers say about us

Good quality, great service, fast delivery!

5

Marinella Li

Always helpful! One of our valued TDCA DeckMark and CladMark accredited supplier members which means their quality procedures are routinely audited and stand up to scrutiny giving you extra peace of mind.

5

Janet Sycamore

Having needed the supply of cladding, decking boards and other specified timbers through out the year Eco choice have been very helpful in sourcing the specified timbers and quantities required at a very competitive price.

5

Tim Saunders

Great quality, service and price. A pleasure to deal with. I would highly recommend Eco Choice.

5

Emma Hurrell

Fantastic company- Mike and the team are the best in the business- worked with them for many years.

5

Prem Raja

Always reliable and quality products, easy to deal with company.

5

Stone Zone

4.9

Average rating on Google Reviews

  • 9 years ago

Excellent service and outstanding product

Cindy Dicks

  • 9 years ago

Great service, quality products and very easy to deal with. Thank you.

Malcolm Coury

  • 6 years ago

Having needed the supply of cladding, decking boards and other specified timbers through out the year Eco choice have been very helpful in sourcing the specified timbers and quantities required at a very competitive price.

Tim Saunders

  • 2 weeks ago

Good quality, great service, fast delivery!

Marinella Li

Your enquiry

Name(Required)

Contact us today

Opening hours

Mondays: 09:00 – 17:00
Tuesdays: 09:00 – 17:00
Wednesdays: 09:00 – 17:00
Thursdays: 09:00 – 17:00
Fridays: 09:00 – 16:00
Saturdays: Closed
Sundays: Closed