Wood recycling
How to Recycle Plywood & OSB
Engineered wood panels (plywood, oriented strand board, particleboard, MDF) from construction, furniture, and manufacturing. Industrial adhesives put them in a different end-of-life path than untreated dimensional lumber.
Check local acceptanceReusable sheets may have modest reuse value by grade and thickness; scrap panels are usually tip-fee or low biomass valueLast reviewed July 31, 2026
Quick answer
Plywood, OSB, particleboard, and MDF are not clean-wood mulch or backyard compost. Reuse sound sheets when you can; otherwise ask a C&D recycler whether engineered panels go to grinding, biomass fuel, or landfill. Never burn them for home heat because of adhesive emissions.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
- Typical value
- Reusable sheets may have modest reuse value by grade and thickness; scrap panels are usually tip-fee or low biomass value
- Donate / take-back
- Available
How to Prepare
- 1Remove metal fasteners, brackets, and non-wood attachments
- 2