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Around here at least, the product descriptions on Ikea furniture talk about end-of-life disposal and many of them make comments like "can be burned for heating" (i.e. the broken, un-repairable table can be burned to keep your house toasty in a long Canadian winter). I'd imagine that poses some challenges to polymer selection for MDF, particle-board, chip-board, etc.

Re: heating oil, I was kind of astounded when I first encountered it (also in New England in my first grad school apartment). I had actually never heard of it, as it was very uncommon where I grew up.

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