Wood recycling firm wins €1m EC grant

A CO CORK company has been given a grant of almost €1 million by the European Commission to continue its research into wood recycling.

Palfab Ltd, which is based in Lissarda, near Macroom, announced yesterday that it would now embark on a three-year project to show the economic and environmental benefits of recovering and recycling wood.

The grant of €947,300, the only one awarded to an Irish company, was made through the LIFE-Environment project.

Palfab is one of Ireland’s largest soft wood processors and employs more than 50 people at its Lissarda base.

Palfab director Donal O’Callaghan said that it was important to recycle wood used in construction, demolition, pallet and packaging — items in plentiful supply since the building boom.

Mr O’Callaghan said it was envisaged the research could result in new, clean-wood products being developed and creating supplies of raw materials. “Making a business out of environmental protection must be the way of life of the future,” he said.