Nearly 50 different kinds of wastes are generated Download the full list (167ko). Distinction is made between two categories, non-hazardous industrial wastes and hazardous industrial wastes (NHIW and HIW), in which 14 groups have been identified.

Hazardous wastes (HIW)
Aerosols (cans of paint)
Wastes from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
Soiled packaging (e.g. drums)
Used oils (hydraulic and engine oil)
Miscellaneous fluids (brake and cooling fluids)
Soiled equipment (e.g. hoses)
Batteries and accumulators
Solvents and detergents
Miscellaneous hazardous wastes (printer cartridges)

Non-hazardous wastes (NHIW)
Clean packaging (e.g. cardboard boxes)
Waste metals (e.g. guide bars and chains)
Used tyres
Glass
Miscellaneous non-hazardous wastes (e.g. clothing and PPE)

A large proportion of the wastes is generated by the use and maintenance of forestry machines (used oil, miscellaneous fluids, solvents and detergents, soiled packaging and equipment, used tyres and metal wastes). Others are generated by tree cutters and consist mainly of waste metal (chainsaw guide bars and chains).

There is a degree of similarity between the wastes produced in forestry and those of agriculture and building public works. Indeed, the machines used have common features: extensive hydraulic circuits, a large number of electrical components and large tyres. However, one of the characteristics of the forestry environment is the extensive use of spray paints for marking cuts and timber. These are dangerous wastes.

In parallel, numerous wastes are generated by classic business activities. These are wastes from electrical and electronic equipment (computers, batteries and various packaging.

Spray paint cans	Waste metals	Soiled hoses	Greasy cloths

A survey questionnaire was sent to several enterprises throughout the study zone. This made it possible to estimate the quantities generated by type of activity.

These data were extrapolated to the national scale on the basis of the following figures:

-  11,000 cutters representing the equivalent of 9,000 full-time jobs (some are pluriactive)

-   3,520 machines:

- 540 felling machines
- 1,230 forwarders
- 1,400 skidders
- 350 agricultural tractors operating in forests

Figures 1 and 2. Distribution of the types of waste produced in one year of forestry logging in France

Used oils (hydraulic and engine oil) form the largest waste category by weight (1100 tonnes per year). The three other main waste categories are used tyres (580 t), waste metal (500 t) and soiled equipment (370 t of hoses, oil filters, greasy cloths, etc). The four waste categories alone form 85 to 90% of the total weight of forestry exploitation wastes.

However, large quantities of some types of wastes can be generated even though the unit weight is not very great (empty spray paint cans).

In the European Union

We extrapolated the French data to all 25 European Union member countries.

The accuracy of this estimation depends above all on knowledge of each country's fleet of forestry machines; the French coefficients of quantity per machine are then applied.

It can be estimated that forest logging in the EU as a whole produces a total of 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes of wastes.

A large proportion of the wastes are hazardous—70% of the total quantity—as a result of the high mechanisation rate in Europe (50% of the total harvest is felled using harvesters).

Yet, great differences are observed between countries as a function of forest production and mechanisation rate.

Four countries (Sweden, Finland, Germany and France) account for two-thirds of the wastes generated in the EU. They are also the four largest wood producing countries in Europe.

Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Finland produce 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes of wastes each year while countries with little forestry activity like the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia produce less than 100 tonnes of wastes per year.

[1] Karjalainen, Asikainen, Llavsky, Zamboni, Hotari, Roser, 2004. Estimation of energy wood potential in Europe. Finnish Forest Research Institute 43 p.