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Classification of used wood to biomass fuel or solid recycled fuel and

cascading use in Finland

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Alakangas, E., Koponen, K. Sokka, L. & Keränen, J. Classification of used wood to biomass fuel or solid recycled fuel and cascading use in Fin-
land, Book of Proceeding Bioenergy 2015, p. 79 – 86, For Boost for Entire Bioenergy Business, 2 – 4.9.2015, Jyväskylä, Finland

Classification of used wood to biomass fuel or solid

recycled fuel and cascading use in Finland
Eija Alakangas, Kati Koponen, Laura Sokka & Janne Keränen
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd,
P.O. Box 1603, FI-40101 Jyväskylä, Finland
Phone: +358 20 722 111, Email: eija.alakangas@vtt.fi

ABSTRACT: VTT has studied cascading use and energy use of used wood. The direct use of wood for energy is
relatively much lower, and the use of wood for pulp industry much higher in Finland than in the EU. As Finland ex-
ports a significant part of its wood biomass (as pulp, paper and board, timber and plywood), the cascading cycles of
wood products take place outside the Finnish borders, e.g. in other EU Member State. This limits the cascading cy-
cles inside Finland. Guidelines has developed for the classification used wood (post-consumer wood) for energy use
including implementation of the legislation and standards in Finland. It is necessary to define the impact of possible
contaminants on the energy utilisation of used wood. This is helpful for categorisation, as well as for identification
and characterisation of the contaminants. The guidelines also include an overall categorisation used wood. In this
classification used wood is divided in 4 categories A, B, C and D. Categories A and B are classified under EN ISO
17225-1–Solid biofuel and class C under EN 15359–Solid recovered fuel standard. Fuels falling into category C
should be incinerated according to waste incineration legislation. Class D wood is treated by wood preservatives and
is hazardous waste.

Keywords: cascading use, quality standards, wood waste, used wood.

1 INTRODUCTION varies according to source (country, writer, point of

view). The term used wood [5] that has been adopted
by ISO 16599 is unambiguous, and clearly states the
Cascading use of woody biomass is getting increas- origin of the material. In some contexts also recovered
ing attention in current European discussions on the wood or recycled wood has been used to describe this
use of wood in the future bioeconomy. Wood products material. Additionally, one may come across the terms
are typically considered to have lower environmental waste wood or wood waste, but these terms are some-
impacts than equivalent products made out of non- what problematic as the terms themselves imply that
renewable raw materials. Woody biomass is presently the material should be classified as waste. This is, how-
used in many different value chains, e.g. as wood-based ever, not always the case even when the word waste is
products and materials, bio-chemicals, and bioenergy, used as part of the term. Therefore, this paper will em-
and in many different industrial sectors. Targets for ploy the term used wood and leave the categorisation
greenhouse gas emission reduction and more resource of the material to be based on the findings of this work.
efficient society are expected to further increase the In order to classify the wood waste for energy use,
demand for wood raw material in Europe during the it is important to know the properties of wood waste
next decades. Woody biomass is, when sustainably (used wood). If used wood includes heavy metals more
grown, a fully renewable resource and a largely recycla- than virgin wood it needs to be burned under waste
ble and reusable material. Only a small fraction of incineration legislation. The value of used wood prod-
wood products cannot be re-used or recovered directly ucts always needs to be considered when making deci-
(e.g. hygiene paper). However, as woody biomass is a sions on the costs, efforts and time that can be spent
limited resource, its use and the service life of wood on the analysis of the starting material. In addition to
fibres should be optimized [6]. being a raw material for solid biofuel, used wood can
The concept of cascading use has been presented in also be used for wood-based panels, bedding products
many studies and reports [6]. Simply put, the cascading for horses, cattle, chicken and domestic animals, as well
use of biomass means that biomass is used (and reused as landscaping and interior furnishing products.
or recycled) at least once or several times as a product International standard: Solid biofuels–Fuel specifi-
before its end-of-life (e.g. energy use or landfill) [6]. cation and classes (EN ISO 17225-1) was published in
The terminology used to describe the material that year 2014 [4]. The EN ISO 17225–1 [4] includes also
is derived from wood or wood products, which no wood waste (used wood), if it does not contain higher
longer can be used for their original intended purpose amounts of halogenated organic compounds or heavy

79
Alakangas, E., Koponen, K. Sokka, L. & Keränen, J. Classification of used wood to biomass fuel or solid recycled fuel and cascading use in Fin-
land, Book of Proceeding Bioenergy 2015, p. 79 – 86, For Boost for Entire Bioenergy Business, 2 – 4.9.2015, Jyväskylä, Finland

metals as a result of treatment with wood preservatives tension of their service life, re-use, recycling, bioenergy
or coating than virgin wood. VTT has published guide- and disposal. However, the strategy also recognises that
lines for used wood for Finnish market already in 2008 in some cases, such as in changing demand or envi-
[1]. Guidelines were based on EN 14961-1 standard. ronmental protection, different approaches may be
EN 14961-1 standard was updated into the internation- needed. Moreover, it is said in the strategy that the
al standard EN ISO 17225-1 [4], which has superseded Commission will together with Member States and
EN 14961-1 standard. Also European and Finnish leg- Stakeholders develop good-practice guidelines for the
islation has been updated, so Finnish Association of cascade principle [6].
Energy Industries commissioned together with Bioen- In the recently accepted ILUC proposal (Outcome
ergy Association of Finland and Finnish Forest indus- of the European Parliament's second reading, April
tries Federation a study from VTT to update the guide- 2015, 8037/15), waste hierarchy and cascading use have
lines. been mentioned as one of the criteria that the Member
One aim of the VTT was to clarify which fractions States need to take into account in their reporting to
of used wood can be defined as solid biofuel and which the European Commission (article 22 of RED) on the
fraction as solid recovered fuel. VTT collected data of use of waste and residue raw materials for biofuels and
used wood from literature, industries and laboratories bioliquids [6].
of used. The new guidelines include information of ex- The Finnish forest industry has built optimised
isting legislation in the European Union, practises and wood use cycles over many decades. The direct energy
regulations of Finland and Annexes includes examples use of streams like black liquor or bark can be consid-
of different used wood fractions and their classification ered as reasonable in pulp and paper industry with
[2]. highly developed facilities and elevated self-sufficiency,
and sometimes even a surplus in energy use. Therefore,
2. CASCADING USE OF WOOD a strictly defined cascading principle should not be seen
as the only option to improve overall efficiency of for-
PRODUCTS AND ENERGY USE est industry. Moreover, the wood use cycle should be
OF USED WOOD considered as a system including the export markets.
The concept of cascading use has been presented in Some countries are primarily producing the virgin fibre
many studies and reports, but the definitions used in and the other ones are the consumers taking the major
these publications differ. So far there seems to be no liability for cascading and efficient use of the products
full consensus on what is considered as cascading use [6].
of wood products. In the commonly cited report by The cascading factors in Finland compared to those
Mantau in 2012 [7], cascade use is defined as the multi- for EU are presented in Figure 1. It can be seen that
ple use of wood resources from trees by using residues, the cascading factor for recycling in products (factor D)
recycled (utilization in production) resources or recov- is significantly lower for Finland than for EU, due to
ered (collected after consumption) resources. Mantau export of products. However, the utilisation of residues
(2012) also presents a concept of cascading factors, in energy is higher in Finland than in EU. Thus the to-
which he calculates for the European wood flows. In tal cascading factor for Finland (1.56) is just slightly
the calculation of total cascading factor, he takes into lower than for EU (1.57) (when also direct energy use
account the energy use of recycled wood (used wood in of logging residues is included).
this paper), but also the direct energy use of wood resi-
dues. He also points out that cascades do not take place Total use of used wood was almost 4,800 TJ in Finland
in one single sector, but between several sectors [6]. in 2014. Use of demolition wood is separated and it
Furthermore, the EU Forest Strategy (COM was almost 1,400 TJ. Used wood is used in 107 plants,
(2013)659) states that cascade use fulfils the criteria of and more than 75% is used in plants bigger than 20
resource-efficiency. According to the strategy, under MWth (Table I).
the cascading principle, wood should be used in the
following order of priority: wood-based products, ex-

Table I. Energy use of used wood and demolition wood in 2014. Source: The Natural Resources Institute Finland,
Luke, Esa Ylitalo, June 2015
Output, Total use of used wood Total use of demolition wood
3 3
MW th 1,000 solid m GWh (TJ) % 1,000 solid m GWh (TJ) %
<1 4 7 (25.2) 0.5 .. -
1 – 4.9 74 130 (468) 9.8 .. 0
5 – 19.9 104 184 (662.4) 13.8 .. 2 (7.2) 0.5
> 20 586 1,012 (3,643.2) 75.9 .. 387 (1,393.2) 99.5
TOTAL 768 1,333 (4,798.8) 100 .. 389 (1,400.4) 100

80
 Alakangas, E., Koponen, K. Sokka, L. & Keränen, J. Classification of used wood to biomass fuel or solid recycled fuel and cascading use in Fin-
land, Book of Proceeding Bioenergy 2015, p. 79 – 86, For Boost for Entire Bioenergy Business, 2 – 4.9.2015, Jyväskylä, Finland

Growing stock (stem) 2 357 Mm3

Change of 47% < 20cm, 34% 20-30cm,19% >30cm
volume Annual increment Round wood import
25.2 Mm3 104.4 Mm3
11.0 Mm3 Janne Keränen, 2015
Growing stock
drain 79.2 Mm3
99.1 Mm3 available for production

Export of round wood

Unmerkantable round wood 9.2 Mm3 Round wood 1.2 Mm3 Calculated roundwood storage
deceased 1.2 Mm3 in 2013
Natural drain 4.7 Mm3 Round wood
use 73.9 Mm3 Forest residues First thinnings 10%,
Pulp import (logging residues and Other thinnings 32%
and regeneration cutting 58%
1.2 Mm3 stumps) 3.9 Mm3

Pulp industries Panel industry

Mechanical and 38.3 Mm3 26,2 Mm3 Energy wood and forest
semi-mechanical pulp Planing and other residues 13.3 Mm3
industry 7.7 Mm3 Sawmill
Use of wood products
Pulp Pulp industry
sideproducts 3.0 Mm3
industry 23.2 Mm3
Import of 7.7 Mm3 Round wood
30.5 Mm3 Sawmills and Particle board
paper
panel ndustry and fibre Wood products
and board Paper board industry
1.4 Mm3 and board Energy wood
0.9 Mm3
Recycled paper Export
1.4 Mm3
Production

Plywood
0.9 Mm3
7.2 Mm3
Wastes 0.27 Mm3 Import of
timber Energy from sidestreams
Sawn
(+ to waterways
6.7 Mm3

and board

waste
15.6 Mm3

For energy 0.02 Mm3)

wood
Pulp

Used wood/waste wood

Paper

production 0.5 Mm3

14.0 Mm3 Energy use 1.0 Mm3
5.5 Mm3
Paper and board includes approx. 3.5 Mtons coatings
and fillers, which are reduced from fiber streams. Waste wood export 0.3 Mm3

Flows below 0.3 Mm3 are not taken into account. Energy use 34.0 Mm3
Sources: Luke, Finnish Forest Industries Federation,
Customs of Finland, Confederation of Finnish Industries,
Energy production in and Paperinkeräys
forest industry Small-scale use of firewood 5.4 Mm3
24.5 Mm3 Use of wood in heat and
power stations 4.1 Mm3

Figure 1. Wood flows in Finland [6].

ious fastening systems that are attached to used wood

products. Another important aspect to be accounted
3. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS for is issues related to occupational health. It is mainly
OF USED WOOD dust that causes problems, especially if hazardous con-
taminants are present. Regardless of what the negative
It is necessary to define the impact of possible con- impact of contaminants is, whether it is technical, envi-
taminants on the energy utilisation of used wood. This ronmental, or health related, the characterisation of
is helpful for categorisation, as well as for identification used wood including the contaminants within it is of
and characterisation of the contaminants. utmost importance. Characterisation will provide nec-
For the scope of this paper, the term contamination essary information for decision making and planning of
is defined as the presence of particles, chemicals, and activities. When the material is adequately characterised,
other undesirable substances and objects, i.e. contami- it should then be possible to plan appropriate sorting
nants that are absent in virgin wood or normal industri- and quality assurance procedures. Some contaminants,
ally produced timber. like plastic, metals, concrete, gypsum, and glass, is pos-
From an environmental point of view, the risks of sible and quite easy to remove mechanically. Others are
used wood combustion are air pollution from flue gases more or less permanently attached to the wood, for in-
or leaching of hazardous substances from ash after dis- stance paint, varnishes, coatings, preservative, glues,
posal. Operation failure, normally appearing as boiler etc., and are thus practically impossible to separate
deposit formation or corrosion, is a technical issue that from the wood material.
also needs to be considered. Mechanically, problems in Used wood contamination can be divided into two
fuel conveyors may occur due to glass, fittings, and var- categories: “chemical” and “mechanical”. Chemical
contamination is more or less permanently adhered to

81
Alakangas, E., Koponen, K. Sokka, L. & Keränen, J. Classification of used wood to biomass fuel or solid recycled fuel and cascading use in Fin-
land, Book of Proceeding Bioenergy 2015, p. 79 – 86, For Boost for Entire Bioenergy Business, 2 – 4.9.2015, Jyväskylä, Finland

the wood and thus nearly impossible to separate from high in calcium and alkali metals. In addition, recovered
the wood material, whereas mechanical contaminants fuels tend to have relatively high chlorine contents. The
are possible to remove from the wood by sorting or result of this is accelerated deposit formation in the
work up. Methods for detecting contaminants are nec- boiler. In fuels, reactive calcium and alkali metals are
essary for establishing and improving product quality. either organically bound or they may occur as car-
Moreover, characterisation of used wood is the basis of bonates or salts. During combustion these react and
risk assessment of products made thereof. form oxides, sulphates or chlorides. Especially chloride
Normally, the following parameters of used wood salts have low melting points. Therefore, it is generally
are screened: “Heavy metals”: arsenic, cadmium, chro- acknowledged that chlorine induces ash deposition.
mium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead, thallium, zinc, Chips made from clean used wood and used construc-
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), e.g. naptha- tion wood, as well as pallets, can from a combustion
lin, anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, halogens like chlorine, point of view be regarded equivalent to wood chips.
bromine and fluorine, Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and Demolition wood, containing painted wood, board res-
lindane, Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and Volatile idues and other non-woody construction materials,
organic compounds (VOCs) may, on the other hand, contain for instance lead. Lead
Heavy metal contaminants, originating from paints is known to cause problems in combustion. The level
and preservatives, need to be considered in the produc- of boiler deposits from combustion of contaminated
tion and utilisation of solid biofuels from used wood. demolition wood is similar to that of recovered fuels in
Another important issue is to control the nature general.
and amount of pollutants formed during used wood There are a great number of non-wood compo-
combustion. The behaviour of used (recovered) wood nents, such as plastics and metals that add to the con-
as a fuel is in principle similar to that of clean wood. tamination level of used wood.
Used wood is often quite dry (usually < 20w-%), thus It is suggested that by careful and selective demoli-
the net calorific value can be higher than for common tion, as well as sorting of the resulting wood waste
fresh wood fuels (e.g. bark). Used wood fuels may, most non-wood compounds can successfully be sepa-
however, have a higher content of contaminants, which rated from the actual wood. Analyses on sorted frac-
may accelerate the formation of deposits in the boiler tions indicate that the used wood contains approxi-
as well as corrosion. Further, the composition of ash mately 1% non-wood compounds, mainly plastic and
can be affected. metal compounds, glass, dirt, concrete, bricks and gyp-
This is normally not a problem in large scale com- sum. Even if the proportion of non-wood components
bustion plants with efficient flue gas cleaning, but seems relatively small, the effect of incinerating large
combustion of this material in the single ovens of pri- amounts of unsorted used wood will inevitably cause
vate houses should be discouraged. Ashes, on the other problems. For example, metal objects of zinc, brass and
hand, contain the residues of the burnt wood. Conse- aluminium, may plug primary air openings. High chlo-
quently, there is the possibility of high concentrations rine levels, with related corrosion issues, are indicative
of heavy metals, and unburned or oxidised pollutants. of the presence of PVC residues in the fuel.[1]
Environmental risks related to used wood combustion
in large scale plants are related to ash recycling as ferti- 3. CLASSIFICATION OF USED
liser.
Although used wood is included in the list of WOOD TO BIOMASS AND SRF
wastes, it should be kept in mind that it should not al-
ways necessarily be regarded or treated as waste. Used In Finland, classes A, B, C and D for used wood
wood or used wood products may enter another life and industrial wood residues and by-products were
cycle, especially through material recycling and reuse proposed for the Ministry of Environment and indus-
but also when the material is utilised as energy. trial associations first time in 2008. The classification
Their classification is not relevant to this paper into these four classes is elucidated by examples with
concerning residual and used wood from industrial and real used wood cases presented in the Guidelines.
municipal (post-society) sources. Figure 2 describes sol- Categories A and B are classified under EN ISO
id biofuels derived from the by-products and residues 17225-1–Solid biofuel standard [4] and class C under
of the wood processing industry, as well as post-society EN 15359–Solid recovered fuels [3]. Fuels falling into
used wood. Part of the woody material under the head- category C are solid recoved fuels (SRF) and should be
ing “used wood” (class 1.3 according to EN ISO incinerated according to the Finnish Waste Incineration
17225-1) can justifiably be classified as biomass. Due to Act (151/2013). Class D wood is treated by wood pre-
the absence of international clear guidelines and defini- servatives and is hazardous waste.
tions, the classification of used wood into either waste This classification is in accordance with the classifi-
or biomass remains debatable in the case of certain cation in the European Waste List. Flow chart in Figure
fractions of wood residues and wastes. [1] 3
Deposit formation is related to the fuel and ash
composition. Solid biofuels and recovered fuels are

82
Alakangas, E., Koponen, K. Sokka, L. & Keränen, J. Classification of used wood to biomass fuel or solid recycled fuel and cascading use in Fin-
land, Book of Proceeding Bioenergy 2015, p. 79 – 86, For Boost for Entire Bioenergy Business, 2 – 4.9.2015, Jyväskylä, Finland

WOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY 1.2 SOCIETY 1.3

By-products and residues Used wood

FOREST INDUSTRY CONSUMERS

Wood products

Mechanical wood processing industry Pulp and paper industry Sorting

Chemically
A B
untreated wood
(construction Chemically treated
Chemically treated
wood etc.) wood (boards,
wood (demolition
CHEMICALLY UNTREATED BY-PRODUCTS CHEMICALLY TREATED BY-PRODUCTS - 1.3.1 plywood etc.) - 1.3.2
wood, wood including
AND RESIDUES - 1.2.1 AND RESIDUES - 1.2.2
chemicals marked
with *)

A B C SOLID
SOLID RECOVED FUEL
SOLID BIOFUEL
Wood Sawdust Cutter Grinding Bark Wood Wood residues
residue chips dust residue without without bark
BIOFUEL
Chips/hog fuel
Chips/hog fuel not including
chemical marked with *
DHAZARDOUS
without bark (painted wood) WASTE
bark (board ind.)
RAW MATERIAL

MECHANICAL TREATMENT
(chipping, crushing etc.)
Pulp Chips/
chips Hog fuel Refined biomass CHEMICAL TREATMENT
fuels IN FOREST INDUSTRY

CHEMICAL TREATMENT FOR

WOOD PRODUCTS*
painting, glue etc..

Pulp SOLID BIOFUEL

Pellets Briquettes
industry FINAL PRODUCT
raw * halogenated
material organic compounds or
heavy metals as a result of
treatment with wood
preservatives or coating

E. Alakangas TO CONVERSION PROCESS (combustion, gasification, liquefaction)

Figure 2. Classification of the industrial by-products and residues and used wood to A, B, C and D classes [2].

clarifies how different used wood classes can be de-

termined.
The first version on the classification was published
in Finland in 2008, and EN 14961-1 standard was ap-
plied. Many companies started to apply classification in
their used wood business and also several environmen-
tal permissions include reference to Guidelines [1].
New guidelines were updated in 2014 and also
some threshold values of heavy metals were checked
[Table II]. Threshold values for class B wood were
based on virgin wood values except for arsenic (As). In
Finland most of the plants firing used wood are mul-
tifuel plants combusting peat or coal with biomass
fuels. Peat and coal have higher arsenic values (0.5 – 14
mg/kg dry) than virgin wood (4 mg/kg dry). Threshold
value for arsenic was agreed 10 mg/kg dry based aver-
age of multicombustion plants fuels. Separate limit val-
ues of Cr, Cu and As concentrations was replaced by
sum content for class B. In the new classification guide-
lines the sum of As+Cu+Cr has been reduced to 70
mg/kg dry (earlier 74 mg/kg dry). The value of 74
mg/kg on dry basis was based on the virgin wood val-
ues of bark [Table II]. Also information of new Emis-
sion Trading legislation were added, especially how to
calculate or analysis CO2 factor for fossil part of the
used wood. Also instructions to correct sampling and
fuel analysis were added.
The Ministry of the Environment approved the
Figure 3. Flow chart how to determinate different used
guidelines together with industrial associations in the
wood categories
end of October 2014. The Ministry requested that

83
Alakangas, E., Koponen, K. Sokka, L. & Keränen, J. Classification of used wood to biomass fuel or solid recycled fuel and cascading use in Fin-
land, Book of Proceeding Bioenergy 2015, p. 79 – 86, For Boost for Entire Bioenergy Business, 2 – 4.9.2015, Jyväskylä, Finland

combustion of used wood (class B) should be limited - Maximum 2 w-% of mechanical contaminants (other
for bigger plants. Primarily, class B wood should be than class A or B wood) are allowed, such as attached
burned in plants with output more than 20 MWth and cement or nails, and the annual averages of chlorine
then they are under Emission Trading Scheme and heavy metal contents may not exceed the thresh-
(601/2012) and CO2 factor for fossil part of the fuel old values of virgin wood (Table II).
(e.g. glue) should be stated. Secondarily, used wood can - Primarily, class B wood should be burned in plants
be used only in new plants, which have output more with output more than 20 MWth and then they are
than 5 MWth, because these plants are under small- under Emission Trading Scheme (601/2012) and
plant combustion legislation (750/2013). CO2 factor for fossil part of the fuel (e.g. glue)
should be stated. Secondarily, used wood can be used
Class A (Virgin wood, only mechanically treated) only in new plants, which have output more than 5
- Chemically untreated by-products or residues from MWth, because these plants are under small-plant
forest and wood processing industry and segregated combustion legislation (750/2013).
wood from parks, gardens, roadside management etc.
(EN ISO 17225-1 Classes 1.2.1 and 1.1.7) If there is a reason to suspect contaminants in class
- Chemically untreated used wood (EN ISO 17225-1 B wood fuel, it has to be re-classified into class C or
Class 1.3.1) analyse the chlorine and heavy metal contents of the
- Proof of the origin and source: In industry descrip- raw material for exclusion of contaminants (threshold
tion of the production process. Quality management values according to virgin wood, Table II).
system or similar, in which the separation of the
wood waste is described.
- Fuel specification according to EN ISO 17225-1 [4]
- No Finnish Waste Incineration Act (151/2013) to be
applied
- No chemical impurities allowed (no B class wood
allowed)
- Can be used in all kind of biomass plants

Figure 5. Example of class B wood, a pallet. Photo

VTT

Class C (Halogenated organic compounds for ex-

ample PVC in the coating)
- Option 1: Separated as waste, for which the stand-
ards of the Waste Incineration Act (151/2013) ap-
plies, and the fuel properties are specified according
Figure 4. Example of class A wood, ply. VTT
to EN 15359 [3].
- Option 2: Certified with analyses that the level of
Class B (Coated, lacquered or otherwise chemically contaminants does not exceed the given threshold
treated and coating does not contain halogenated or- values for chlorine and heavy metals (Table II), after
ganic compounds (for example PVC) and preservatives, which the wood can be considered as class B wood
no demolition wood) (biomass fuel; EN ISO 17225-11, class 1.3.2; Waste
Incineration Act does not apply).
- Chemically treated by-products and residues from
forest and wood processing industry and (EN ISO - Note: Demolition wood belongs to this class (class C;
17225-1 Class 1.2.2) Waste Incineration Decree applies), if it is not possi-
ble to prove with quality management system or
- Chemically treated used wood (EN ISO 17225-1
property specifications, that demolition wood is not
Class 1.3.2) excluding demolition wood.
chemically treated (e.g. house frames, building tim-
- Proof of the origin and source: In industry descrip- ber).
tion of the production process. Quality management
system or similar, in which the separation of the
wood waste is described.
- Fuel specification according to EN ISO 17225-1

84
Alakangas, E., Koponen, K. Sokka, L. & Keränen, J. Classification of used wood to biomass fuel or solid recycled fuel and cascading use in Fin-
land, Book of Proceeding Bioenergy 2015, p. 79 – 86, For Boost for Entire Bioenergy Business, 2 – 4.9.2015, Jyväskylä, Finland

Table II. Threshold values for B class used wood in Finland

Class A Class B Class C

Threshold Virgin wood, which Threshold values to

Informative

Informative
Normative

Normative
Property value1, is reference to be check to be classi-
dry basis threshold value fied as B Class

Sulphur S < 0,2 w–% bark, broadleaf X X X

Nitrogen N < 0,9 w–% bark, broadleaf X X X
< 5 000
Potassium K bark, broadleaf X
mg/kg
< 2 000
Sodium Na bark, coniferous X
mg/kg
Chlorine Cl < 0.1 w–% X X X
Σ Arsenic + As+
< 70 bark, coniferous
Chromium+ Cr+ X X
”Heavy metals”

mg/kg2 Σ 74 mg/kg
Copper Cu
Cadmium Cd
< 1 mg/kg bark, coniferous X X
< 0.1
Mercury Hg bark, coniferous X X
mg/kg
Lead Pb < 50 mg/kg bark, coniferous X X
< 200
Zink Zn bark, coniferous X X
mg/kg
1 Threshold values are applied only for Cl, N, S and heavy metals. K and Na are recommended values for evaluation

of combustion behaviour.
3 As-value may not be higher than 10 mg/kg (+30% accuracy of the measurement) for class B wood. Note: 1 000

mg/kg equals to 0.1 w–%. Normative properties are mandatory and informative are voluntary.

Figure 6. Example of class C wood, demolition wood. Figure 7. Example of class D wood. Photo, VTT.
Photo VTT.

Class D (Preservative-treated wood) 5. CONCLUSIONS

- Railway sleepers
- Transmission and telephone line poles Finnish wood flows differ significantly from the
average European wood flows presented by Mantau in
Class D wood is hazardous waste 2012 [7]. Firstly, the direct use of wood for energy is
relatively much lower, and the use of wood for pulp
industry much higher in Finland than in the EU. Sec-
ondarily, as Finland exports a significant part of its
wood biomass (as pulp, paper and board, timber and
plywood), the cascading cycles of wood products take
place outside the Finnish borders, e.g. in other EU

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 Alakangas, E., Koponen, K. Sokka, L. & Keränen, J. Classification of used wood to biomass fuel or solid recycled fuel and cascading use in Fin-
land, Book of Proceeding Bioenergy 2015, p. 79 – 86, For Boost for Entire Bioenergy Business, 2 – 4.9.2015, Jyväskylä, Finland

Member State. This limits the cascading cycles inside 6. REFERENCES

Finland. In addition, the figures show that the energy
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