Environmental and technical feasibility study of upcycling wood waste into cement-bonded particleboard

The scarceness of virgin resources and sustainable management of waste materials in high-density city arouse heightened focus on new technology development for waste recycling and local utilization. Wood waste recovery from construction activities and upcycling into secondary products allow the substitution of virgin resources and minimize the environmental burdens within the frontier of industrial ecology. This study assessed the technical viability and environmental sustainability of cement-bonded particleboards (CBPs) produced with recycled wood aggregates and alternative binder; and compared the performance of its counterpart produced with virgin wood and ordinary binder using experimental analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA). The experimental results showed acceptable mechanical performance of the developed CBPs in compliance with the required standards. Adoption of carbon dioxide curing technology further enhanced the durability of the developed CBPs. Although similar greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission was observed for imported conventional CBPs and locally produced CBPs with alternative materials, the considerations of direct carbon sequestration and landfill avoidance contributed to a 9% reduction of the total GHGs compared to conventional CBPs. The LCA results also demonstrated that substantial amount of GHGs can be potentially saved depending on the recycling rates of wood waste in Hong Kong. Hence, technological innovation can effectively address problem of wood waste disposal and enhance material utilization and sustainability of the construction industry.