Composite Benefits: Commonly formed from recycled plastics and wood pieces, composite fences look like wood, but you'll never have to paint or stain them. One of the main benefits of composite is the green factor -- you are not using new lumber to build a fence. The wood in composite fencing material typically comes from recycled chips or sawdust. Composite fencing is dense, which makes it strong enough to stand up to the elements for years but it is still relatively lightweight.