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Frequently asked questions
Can I come and see what you do?
Yes, please drop in. We’re open Wednesday to Saturaday 9 am - 4 pm. Please note we are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Where does the wood come from?
Our wood is mainly from local manufacturing and construction businesses, but individuals can donate wood as well. Some of the wood has a great back story - we've even recycled bits of Weston-super-Mare's old pier!
In addition we've more recently been able to source sustainable timber from local mills, wind-fallen trees we've milled ourselves and short lengths or odd sizes of quality joinery and furniture grade timber.
Are you a charity?
No, Somerset Wood Recycling is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company limited by guarantee. This means two things. Firstly, all the money we make is reinvested in the project to continue its aims (mainly to work with long term unemployed people, people with mental health issues and drug and alcohol issues). Secondly, it means that the project can’t be sold on as a business for profit.
Does “not-for-profit” mean you don’t need to make any money?
No. We must pay the same bills as any other business: taxes, national insurance, rent, wages, electricity, fuel and so on. Even volunteers come at a cost. The difference between us and a regular business is that we are committed to reinvesting any surplus we make into employing disadvantaged people and providing a better experience for our volunteers by improving our ability to develop their skills. We also don’t distribute profits to shareholders (there aren’t any). We aim to be reasonably priced, charging what we feel is fair value for our time, skill and value of the product.
Are you part of North Somerset Council?
We aren’t part of North Somerset Council, but we do provide outdoor repairs and maintenance for them.
Do you sell timber to the public?
Yes! Check out the section about buying raw materials on the services page of this website.
Do you have any sleepers or scaffold planks for raised beds?
Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t. But don’t think that sleepers/scaffold planks are the only things you can use for raised beds. Come and take a look.
I’ve got something I need made. Can you help?
Yes, please visit our services page for more information about bespoke design commissions. Or send us an enquiry, give us a call or drop into see us. We’d love to help.
How much do you charge for wood?
Generally, we are the most cost-effective option when it comes to buying wood. However, we’ve got a lot more than old pallets and 3”x2”, for example local native species and exotic woods which will be more expensive. But we always endeavour to charge fair prices for our time and the value of the timber.
What payment methods do you accept?
We can accept cash or card payments in our shop.
Can I donate wood to you?
If you want to drop off wood, please contact us in advance giving a description of the wood, so we can decide if it’s suitable or not. We also need to know where the wood has come from.
If we've agreed, drop offs must be made during our opening hours. Funnily enough, we don’t want people leaving soggy chipboard outside our premises in the middle of the night!
I’ve got a load of wood I need to get rid of. Can you collect it for free?
If the wood is good quality and of sufficient quantity, we might be able to collect for free, especially if it’s not too far from where we are. But collecting wood costs a lot of money, especially if it needs sorting out at our end and isn’t very recyclable.
Please provide us with as much information about the wood as possible. This will help us to give you a clear idea of whether we will need to charge for the collection.
Do you chip the wood you collect?
No, we are not a wood chipping company. We aim to sell the wood to the public or reuse it by turning it into furniture. What’s left over goes to local allotments and into our biomass heater where possible. Only a very small amount goes back into the waste stream.
Can I volunteer with you?
Yes, you can. Please see our volunteer page for more details. Better yet, give us a call or come in for a chat.