The Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project sets out to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill - and does so most effectively as I discovered during a visit this morning.

The UK produces around 8 million tonnes of wood waste each year, more than 80 per cent of which is landfilled, despite the fact that much of it is perfectly reusable.

This Brighton social enterprise finds ways to reuse this ‘waste' and I saw a fine array of timber at the Wood Store, where the recycling project is based.

Sheet material and scaffold boards for construction and DIY were lined up in the timber yard, while the showroom featured beautiful furniture made from recycled materials.

The contribution that the Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project makes to waste reduction is vital - but it's also creating further benefits along the way.

The project creates jobs and training opportunities for local people and has won major prestigious awards for its innovative business approach as a social enterprise.

I'd warmly recommend a visit to the Wood Store - see www.woodrecycling.org.uk for more info.

Pictured L-R: Rick (volunteer), Caroline, John Benson (Collections Manager) and Richie Simpson (Managing Director)