diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.cpp
index 5f7ee0523a..6c46fd6d05 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include <components/debug/debuglog.hpp>
 #include <components/esm/loadgmst.hpp>
 #include <components/sceneutil/positionattitudetransform.hpp>
-#include <components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.hpp>
 #include <components/misc/convert.hpp>
 
 #include <components/nifosg/particle.hpp> // FindRecIndexVisitor
@@ -160,11 +159,6 @@ namespace MWPhysics
         mProjectiles.clear();
     }
 
-    void PhysicsSystem::setUnrefQueue(SceneUtil::UnrefQueue *unrefQueue)
-    {
-        mUnrefQueue = unrefQueue;
-    }
-
     Resource::BulletShapeManager *PhysicsSystem::getShapeManager()
     {
         return mShapeManager.get();
@@ -513,9 +507,6 @@ namespace MWPhysics
     {
         if (auto foundObject = mObjects.find(ptr.mRef); foundObject != mObjects.end())
         {
-            if (mUnrefQueue.get())
-                mUnrefQueue->push(foundObject->second->getShapeInstance());
-
             mAnimatedObjects.erase(foundObject->second.get());
 
             mObjects.erase(foundObject);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.hpp
index 30fdbcc122..6ec4ebfda9 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.hpp
@@ -36,11 +36,6 @@ namespace Resource
     class ResourceSystem;
 }
 
-namespace SceneUtil
-{
-    class UnrefQueue;
-}
-
 class btCollisionWorld;
 class btBroadphaseInterface;
 class btDefaultCollisionConfiguration;
@@ -118,8 +113,6 @@ namespace MWPhysics
             PhysicsSystem (Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, osg::ref_ptr<osg::Group> parentNode);
             virtual ~PhysicsSystem ();
 
-            void setUnrefQueue(SceneUtil::UnrefQueue* unrefQueue);
-
             Resource::BulletShapeManager* getShapeManager();
 
             void enableWater(float height);
@@ -262,8 +255,6 @@ namespace MWPhysics
 
             std::pair<std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Actor>>, std::vector<ActorFrameData>> prepareFrameData(bool willSimulate);
 
-            osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::UnrefQueue> mUnrefQueue;
-
             std::unique_ptr<btBroadphaseInterface> mBroadphase;
             std::unique_ptr<btDefaultCollisionConfiguration> mCollisionConfiguration;
             std::unique_ptr<btCollisionDispatcher> mDispatcher;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.cpp
index ec1c4397bf..f51008fffa 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 #include <osg/UserDataContainer>
 
 #include <components/sceneutil/positionattitudetransform.hpp>
-#include <components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.hpp>
 
 #include "../mwworld/ptr.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/class.hpp"
@@ -18,10 +17,9 @@
 namespace MWRender
 {
 
-Objects::Objects(Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, osg::ref_ptr<osg::Group> rootNode, SceneUtil::UnrefQueue* unrefQueue)
+Objects::Objects(Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, osg::ref_ptr<osg::Group> rootNode)
     : mRootNode(rootNode)
     , mResourceSystem(resourceSystem)
-    , mUnrefQueue(unrefQueue)
 {
 }
 
@@ -117,9 +115,6 @@ bool Objects::removeObject (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr)
     PtrAnimationMap::iterator iter = mObjects.find(ptr);
     if(iter != mObjects.end())
     {
-        if (mUnrefQueue.get())
-            mUnrefQueue->push(iter->second);
-
         mObjects.erase(iter);
 
         if (ptr.getClass().isActor())
@@ -146,9 +141,6 @@ void Objects::removeCell(const MWWorld::CellStore* store)
         MWWorld::Ptr ptr = iter->second->getPtr();
         if(ptr.getCell() == store)
         {
-            if (mUnrefQueue.get())
-                mUnrefQueue->push(iter->second);
-
             if (ptr.getClass().isNpc() && ptr.getRefData().getCustomData())
             {
                 MWWorld::InventoryStore& invStore = ptr.getClass().getInventoryStore(ptr);
@@ -166,8 +158,6 @@ void Objects::removeCell(const MWWorld::CellStore* store)
     if(cell != mCellSceneNodes.end())
     {
         cell->second->getParent(0)->removeChild(cell->second);
-        if (mUnrefQueue.get())
-            mUnrefQueue->push(cell->second);
         mCellSceneNodes.erase(cell);
     }
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.hpp
index 98ebb95d98..5f8b7dfc9e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.hpp
@@ -24,11 +24,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
     class CellStore;
 }
 
-namespace SceneUtil
-{
-    class UnrefQueue;
-}
-
 namespace MWRender{
 
 class Animation;
@@ -66,12 +61,10 @@ class Objects{
 
     Resource::ResourceSystem* mResourceSystem;
 
-    osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::UnrefQueue> mUnrefQueue;
-
     void insertBegin(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr);
 
 public:
-    Objects(Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, osg::ref_ptr<osg::Group> rootNode, SceneUtil::UnrefQueue* unrefQueue);
+    Objects(Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, osg::ref_ptr<osg::Group> rootNode);
     ~Objects();
 
     /// @param animated Attempt to load separate keyframes from a .kf file matching the model file?
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
index 14000273db..1f29c45182 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
 #include <components/sceneutil/statesetupdater.hpp>
 #include <components/sceneutil/positionattitudetransform.hpp>
 #include <components/sceneutil/workqueue.hpp>
-#include <components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.hpp>
 #include <components/sceneutil/writescene.hpp>
 #include <components/sceneutil/shadow.hpp>
 
@@ -289,7 +288,6 @@ namespace MWRender
         , mRootNode(rootNode)
         , mResourceSystem(resourceSystem)
         , mWorkQueue(workQueue)
-        , mUnrefQueue(new SceneUtil::UnrefQueue)
         , mNavigator(navigator)
         , mMinimumAmbientLuminance(0.f)
         , mNightEyeFactor(0.f)
@@ -387,7 +385,7 @@ namespace MWRender
         mRecastMesh.reset(new RecastMesh(mRootNode, Settings::Manager::getBool("enable recast mesh render", "Navigator")));
         mPathgrid.reset(new Pathgrid(mRootNode));
 
-        mObjects.reset(new Objects(mResourceSystem, sceneRoot, mUnrefQueue.get()));
+        mObjects.reset(new Objects(mResourceSystem, sceneRoot));
 
         if (getenv("OPENMW_DONT_PRECOMPILE") == nullptr)
         {
@@ -434,7 +432,6 @@ namespace MWRender
             mTerrain.reset(new Terrain::TerrainGrid(sceneRoot, mRootNode, mResourceSystem, mTerrainStorage.get(), Mask_Terrain, Mask_PreCompile, Mask_Debug));
 
         mTerrain->setTargetFrameRate(Settings::Manager::getFloat("target framerate", "Cells"));
-        mTerrain->setWorkQueue(mWorkQueue.get());
 
         if (groundcover)
         {
@@ -569,11 +566,6 @@ namespace MWRender
         return mWorkQueue.get();
     }
 
-    SceneUtil::UnrefQueue* RenderingManager::getUnrefQueue()
-    {
-        return mUnrefQueue.get();
-    }
-
     Terrain::World* RenderingManager::getTerrain()
     {
         return mTerrain.get();
@@ -804,8 +796,6 @@ namespace MWRender
     {
         reportStats();
 
-        mUnrefQueue->flush(mWorkQueue.get());
-
         float rainIntensity = mSky->getPrecipitationAlpha();
         mWater->setRainIntensity(rainIntensity);
 
@@ -1223,8 +1213,6 @@ namespace MWRender
         unsigned int frameNumber = mViewer->getFrameStamp()->getFrameNumber();
         if (stats->collectStats("resource"))
         {
-            stats->setAttribute(frameNumber, "UnrefQueue", mUnrefQueue->getNumItems());
-
             mTerrain->reportStats(frameNumber, stats);
         }
     }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
index bd8bbe4694..b8d5d955c8 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ namespace SceneUtil
 {
     class ShadowManager;
     class WorkQueue;
-    class UnrefQueue;
 }
 
 namespace DetourNavigator
@@ -106,7 +105,6 @@ namespace MWRender
         Resource::ResourceSystem* getResourceSystem();
 
         SceneUtil::WorkQueue* getWorkQueue();
-        SceneUtil::UnrefQueue* getUnrefQueue();
         Terrain::World* getTerrain();
 
         void preloadCommonAssets();
@@ -262,7 +260,6 @@ namespace MWRender
         Resource::ResourceSystem* mResourceSystem;
 
         osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::WorkQueue> mWorkQueue;
-        osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::UnrefQueue> mUnrefQueue;
 
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::Light> mSunLight;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.cpp
index 590e1e9c00..fc09a6e9a8 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 #include <components/misc/resourcehelpers.hpp>
 #include <components/misc/stringops.hpp>
 #include <components/terrain/world.hpp>
-#include <components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.hpp>
 #include <components/esm/loadcell.hpp>
 #include <components/loadinglistener/reporter.hpp>
 
@@ -322,11 +321,10 @@ namespace MWWorld
         PreloadMap::iterator found = mPreloadCells.find(cell);
         if (found != mPreloadCells.end())
         {
-            // do the deletion in the background thread
             if (found->second.mWorkItem)
             {
                 found->second.mWorkItem->abort();
-                mUnrefQueue->push(std::move(found->second.mWorkItem));
+                found->second.mWorkItem = nullptr;
             }
 
             mPreloadCells.erase(found);
@@ -340,7 +338,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             if (it->second.mWorkItem)
             {
                 it->second.mWorkItem->abort();
-                mUnrefQueue->push(it->second.mWorkItem);
+                it->second.mWorkItem = nullptr;
             }
 
             mPreloadCells.erase(it++);
@@ -356,7 +354,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
                 if (it->second.mWorkItem)
                 {
                     it->second.mWorkItem->abort();
-                    mUnrefQueue->push(it->second.mWorkItem);
+                    it->second.mWorkItem = nullptr;
                 }
                 mPreloadCells.erase(it++);
             }
@@ -409,11 +407,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
         mWorkQueue = workQueue;
     }
 
-    void CellPreloader::setUnrefQueue(SceneUtil::UnrefQueue* unrefQueue)
-    {
-        mUnrefQueue = unrefQueue;
-    }
-
     bool CellPreloader::syncTerrainLoad(const std::vector<CellPreloader::PositionCellGrid> &positions, double timestamp, Loading::Listener& listener)
     {
         if (!mTerrainPreloadItem)
@@ -455,11 +448,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         else
         {
             if (mTerrainViews.size() > positions.size())
-            {
-                for (unsigned int i=positions.size(); i<mTerrainViews.size(); ++i)
-                    mUnrefQueue->push(mTerrainViews[i]);
                 mTerrainViews.resize(positions.size());
-            }
             else if (mTerrainViews.size() < positions.size())
             {
                 for (unsigned int i=mTerrainViews.size(); i<positions.size(); ++i)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.hpp
index 0c3bcb4f99..185a25276b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.hpp
@@ -19,11 +19,6 @@ namespace Terrain
     class View;
 }
 
-namespace SceneUtil
-{
-    class UnrefQueue;
-}
-
 namespace MWRender
 {
     class LandManager;
@@ -72,8 +67,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         void setWorkQueue(osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::WorkQueue> workQueue);
 
-        void setUnrefQueue(SceneUtil::UnrefQueue* unrefQueue);
-
         typedef std::pair<osg::Vec3f, osg::Vec4i> PositionCellGrid;
         void setTerrainPreloadPositions(const std::vector<PositionCellGrid>& positions);
 
@@ -87,7 +80,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
         Terrain::World* mTerrain;
         MWRender::LandManager* mLandManager;
         osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::WorkQueue> mWorkQueue;
-        osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::UnrefQueue> mUnrefQueue;
         double mExpiryDelay;
         unsigned int mMinCacheSize;
         unsigned int mMaxCacheSize;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
index e333e00623..d49e6c0e8b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 #include <components/resource/resourcesystem.hpp>
 #include <components/resource/scenemanager.hpp>
 #include <components/resource/bulletshape.hpp>
-#include <components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.hpp>
 #include <components/sceneutil/positionattitudetransform.hpp>
 #include <components/detournavigator/navigator.hpp>
 #include <components/detournavigator/debug.hpp>
@@ -654,7 +653,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
             }
 
             mRendering.getResourceSystem()->updateCache(mRendering.getReferenceTime());
-            mRendering.getUnrefQueue()->flush(mRendering.getWorkQueue());
 
             loadingListener->increaseProgress (1);
             i++;
@@ -701,7 +699,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
             }
 
             mRendering.getResourceSystem()->updateCache(mRendering.getReferenceTime());
-            mRendering.getUnrefQueue()->flush(mRendering.getWorkQueue());
 
             loadingListener->increaseProgress (1);
             i++;
@@ -755,9 +752,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
         mPreloader.reset(new CellPreloader(rendering.getResourceSystem(), physics->getShapeManager(), rendering.getTerrain(), rendering.getLandManager()));
         mPreloader->setWorkQueue(mRendering.getWorkQueue());
 
-        mPreloader->setUnrefQueue(rendering.getUnrefQueue());
-        mPhysics->setUnrefQueue(rendering.getUnrefQueue());
-
         rendering.getResourceSystem()->setExpiryDelay(Settings::Manager::getFloat("cache expiry delay", "Cells"));
 
         mPreloader->setExpiryDelay(Settings::Manager::getFloat("preload cell expiry delay", "Cells"));
diff --git a/components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.cpp b/components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 50b23cae92..0000000000
--- a/components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-#include "unrefqueue.hpp"
-
-//#include <osg/Timer>
-
-//#include <components/debug/debuglog.hpp>
-
-namespace SceneUtil
-{
-    void UnrefWorkItem::doWork()
-    {
-        mObjects.clear();
-    }
-
-    UnrefQueue::UnrefQueue()
-    {
-        mWorkItem = new UnrefWorkItem;
-    }
-
-    void UnrefQueue::push(const osg::Referenced *obj)
-    {
-        mWorkItem->mObjects.emplace_back(obj);
-    }
-
-    void UnrefQueue::flush(SceneUtil::WorkQueue *workQueue)
-    {
-        if (mWorkItem->mObjects.empty())
-            return;
-
-        workQueue->addWorkItem(mWorkItem, true);
-
-        mWorkItem = new UnrefWorkItem;
-    }
-
-    unsigned int UnrefQueue::getNumItems() const
-    {
-        return mWorkItem->mObjects.size();
-    }
-
-}
diff --git a/components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.hpp b/components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 84372d28c0..0000000000
--- a/components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,44 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef OPENMW_COMPONENTS_UNREFQUEUE_H
-#define OPENMW_COMPONENTS_UNREFQUEUE_H
-
-#include <deque>
-
-#include <osg/ref_ptr>
-#include <osg/Referenced>
-
-#include <components/sceneutil/workqueue.hpp>
-
-namespace SceneUtil
-{
-    class WorkQueue;
-    
-    class UnrefWorkItem : public SceneUtil::WorkItem
-    {
-    public:
-        std::deque<osg::ref_ptr<const osg::Referenced> > mObjects;
-        void doWork() override;
-    };
-
-    /// @brief Handles unreferencing of objects through the WorkQueue. Typical use scenario
-    /// would be the main thread pushing objects that are no longer needed, and the background thread deleting them.
-    class UnrefQueue : public osg::Referenced
-    {
-    public:
-        UnrefQueue();
-
-        /// Adds an object to the list of objects to be unreferenced. Call from the main thread.
-        void push(const osg::Referenced* obj);
-
-        /// Adds a WorkItem to the given WorkQueue that will clear the list of objects in a worker thread, thus unreferencing them.
-        /// Call from the main thread.
-        void flush(SceneUtil::WorkQueue* workQueue);
-
-        unsigned int getNumItems() const;
-
-    private:
-        osg::ref_ptr<UnrefWorkItem> mWorkItem;
-    };
-
-}
-
-#endif
diff --git a/components/terrain/compositemaprenderer.cpp b/components/terrain/compositemaprenderer.cpp
index 2a3fa47daa..55da3d347a 100644
--- a/components/terrain/compositemaprenderer.cpp
+++ b/components/terrain/compositemaprenderer.cpp
@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@
 #include <osg/Texture2D>
 #include <osg/RenderInfo>
 
-#include <components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.hpp>
-#include <components/sceneutil/workqueue.hpp>
-
 #include <algorithm>
 
 namespace Terrain
@@ -21,8 +18,6 @@ CompositeMapRenderer::CompositeMapRenderer()
 
     mFBO = new osg::FrameBufferObject;
 
-    mUnrefQueue = new SceneUtil::UnrefQueue;
-
     getOrCreateStateSet()->setMode(GL_LIGHTING, osg::StateAttribute::OFF);
 }
 
@@ -30,11 +25,6 @@ CompositeMapRenderer::~CompositeMapRenderer()
 {
 }
 
-void CompositeMapRenderer::setWorkQueue(SceneUtil::WorkQueue* workQueue)
-{
-    mWorkQueue = workQueue;
-}
-
 void CompositeMapRenderer::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo &renderInfo) const
 {
     double dt = mTimer.time_s();
@@ -45,9 +35,6 @@ void CompositeMapRenderer::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo &renderInfo) const
     double availableTime = std::max((targetFrameTime - dt)*conservativeTimeRatio,
                                     mMinimumTimeAvailable);
 
-    if (mWorkQueue)
-        mUnrefQueue->flush(mWorkQueue.get());
-
     std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mMutex);
 
     if (mImmediateCompileSet.empty() && mCompileSet.empty())
@@ -139,10 +126,6 @@ void CompositeMapRenderer::compile(CompositeMap &compositeMap, osg::RenderInfo &
 
         ++compositeMap.mCompiled;
 
-        if (mWorkQueue)
-        {
-            mUnrefQueue->push(compositeMap.mDrawables[i]);
-        }
         compositeMap.mDrawables[i] = nullptr;
 
         if (timeLeft)
diff --git a/components/terrain/compositemaprenderer.hpp b/components/terrain/compositemaprenderer.hpp
index 257173af46..f0021c88fe 100644
--- a/components/terrain/compositemaprenderer.hpp
+++ b/components/terrain/compositemaprenderer.hpp
@@ -13,12 +13,6 @@ namespace osg
     class Texture2D;
 }
 
-namespace SceneUtil
-{
-    class UnrefQueue;
-    class WorkQueue;
-}
-
 namespace Terrain
 {
 
@@ -45,9 +39,6 @@ namespace Terrain
 
         void compile(CompositeMap& compositeMap, osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo, double* timeLeft) const;
 
-        /// Set a WorkQueue to delete compiled composite map layers in the background thread
-        void setWorkQueue(SceneUtil::WorkQueue* workQueue);
-
         /// Set the available time in seconds for compiling (non-immediate) composite maps each frame
         void setMinimumTimeAvailableForCompile(double time);
 
@@ -67,9 +58,6 @@ namespace Terrain
         double mMinimumTimeAvailable;
         mutable osg::Timer mTimer;
 
-        osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::UnrefQueue> mUnrefQueue;
-        osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::WorkQueue> mWorkQueue;
-
         typedef std::set<osg::ref_ptr<CompositeMap> > CompileSet;
 
         mutable CompileSet mCompileSet;
diff --git a/components/terrain/world.cpp b/components/terrain/world.cpp
index 17a51913e5..582cc68b1b 100644
--- a/components/terrain/world.cpp
+++ b/components/terrain/world.cpp
@@ -84,11 +84,6 @@ World::~World()
     }
 }
 
-void World::setWorkQueue(SceneUtil::WorkQueue* workQueue)
-{
-    mCompositeMapRenderer->setWorkQueue(workQueue);
-}
-
 void World::setBordersVisible(bool visible)
 {
     mBorderVisible = visible;
diff --git a/components/terrain/world.hpp b/components/terrain/world.hpp
index def7a2eccf..b9fa7c0160 100644
--- a/components/terrain/world.hpp
+++ b/components/terrain/world.hpp
@@ -28,11 +28,6 @@ namespace Resource
     class ResourceSystem;
 }
 
-namespace SceneUtil
-{
-    class WorkQueue;
-}
-
 namespace Loading
 {
     class Reporter;
@@ -115,9 +110,6 @@ namespace Terrain
         World(osg::Group* parent, Storage* storage, unsigned int nodeMask);
         virtual ~World();
 
-        /// Set a WorkQueue to delete objects in the background thread.
-        void setWorkQueue(SceneUtil::WorkQueue* workQueue);
-
         /// See CompositeMapRenderer::setTargetFrameRate
         void setTargetFrameRate(float rate);