AUCKLAND, New Zealand – After more than five years of research in conjunction with the University of Auckland, Orica Powder Coatings, Auckland, New Zealand, is applying to patent a recycling process that can profitably turn waste paint, powder coatings and wood into high-performance particleboard for building. Based on current research, one plant could annually recycle a combined 17,000 tons of waste paint, powder coatings and wood fiber.

Orica Powder Coatings originally experimented with just waste powder coating and wood fiber, but then discovered the addition of waste paint created the ideal mix for the board. The result is a high-performance product, with the waste powder coating and paint acting as binding agents and adding water resistance. While waste wood would generally be used, it can be substituted with other sources of fiber such as rice husks, straw and coconut fibers.