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The timber industry in
Sarawak has developed from
being just log exporter to
selling semi-finished timber products
and high quality wood-based
products like furniture pieces and
medium density fibreboard (MDF)
over the past fifteen years. These
developments have brought about
greater revenue to the state from
the exports and also produced new
generations of skilled craftsmen
and business entrepreneurs, which
will ensure the timber industry’s
prosperity in the future.
One aspect of concern from these
developments was the buildup of
residue wood waste,
especially from the
sawmills. Due to the
different range of
timber industries,
many different types
of waste products
were produced
from basic sawdust to
shavings, log ends
to pillar core and
reject veneers to trim
ends. Initially, these
were disposed off but
new technologies and innovations
have given rise to uses for these
waste. Medium density fibreboards
(MDF) made from wood waste
have resulted in the creation of
new products and also revenue
while directly reducing wood
waste. Particleboards too have seen
increasing demand while biomass
pellets, charcoal or briquette and
woodchips are by-products, which
have demand from other sources.
All these products are increasingly
closing the loop of waste generation
from the timber industry here and
making the industry more efficient
as well as more eco-friendly.
The use of wood residues for
fuel generation has been around
for a long time and continues to
be a source of clean fuel for the
timber industry. New and better
technologies have enabled these
fuel sources to be more eco-friendly
by not emitting carbon dioxide
(CO2) in the process. As the industry
continues to chart progress, the
ongoing research on finding new,
innovative ways to make it more
efficient and environmentally friendly
will continue to be pursued.
Reinventing
Wood Waste
Taking the timber industry
to new heights
For more information and all those interested should write, call or visit
Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC),
Wisma Sumber Alam, Jalan Stadium, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching,
P.O. Box 194, 93702 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Tel: +6082 473000 Fax: +6082 442691 Email: stidc@pusaka.gov.my
www.sarawaktimber.org.my
66 | BorneoTalkApr-Jun2012