The potential of wood-based urban waste to generate bioenergy and increase the energetic sustainability

Originating from furniture scraps, packaging, urban tree pruning, and construction waste, urban wood waste generates surprisingly large annual volumes. Due to its abundance and interesting physical–chemical characteristics for its use, it can be an excellent alternative for generating renewable energy for heat and electricity. In this context, urban wood waste’s physical, chemical, and energetic properties were investigated, proposing alternative environmental routes for its introduction into the urban and industrial electricity sectors. Waste collected in Piracicaba (Brazil) was evaluated for physical and chemical composition, such as moisture, bulk density, particle size distribution, mineral contaminants, immediate chemical composition, chemical composition, and calorific value analysis. The waste studied presented potential characteristics for bioenergy generation, with ash and contaminant contents (such as metallic materials and sand) within the quality thresholds established by the energy sector. Among the waste materials analyzed, plywood, chipboard, wood, and OSB stood out for their high energy density (averaging 2.97 GJ/m3) and low ash content (averaging 1.13