Using recycled wood or paper fiber as a reinforcing filler in thermoplastics is a recent innovation. Using wood and paper fiber as a reinforcing filler decreases raw material cost and significantly increases rigidity and strength. The composite material does not come without trade-offs, however. Composites have lower impact resistance, but for most applications, this is not significant. Blending the wood and plastic can also be difficult.
Wood is more sensitive to moisture than to heat, while the inverse is generally true for plastics.
The recycled composite material can be recycled again and again with no significant loss of properties. The composite material can be made into products currently made with only plastic. Standard processing equipment can be used with little or no modification. The ideal setting for producing composites is a versatile facility that can accommodate shifting availability of raw materials. Urban settings work well for this recycling technology because raw material availability and market accessibility are higher.