Wood Waste

Wood waste is tree bark, wood shavings, sawdust, low-grade lumber and rejects from sawmills, plywood mills and pulp mills. Wood waste also consists of the refuse from construction and demolition activities, or old furniture and scrap. Whenever a new use for wood waste is discovered, the amount of garbage in landfills is automatically reduced. It has been advocated by environmentalists and concerned authorities alike that different methods of recycling of waste matter be devised to reduce as much environmental damage as possible. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (ECA) there are over 550 facilities in the US alone, that process wood waste.

Uses of Waste Wood

Construction/Architectural

One of the most valued markets for wood waste comes from the reuse of wooden components of residences and buildings. People selling their interior stuff like bannisters get the highest prices for wood waste because they are reused as decorative items in newer buildings. Wooden pieces salvaged from old buildings and structures have a huge value for contractors. But these lumbers need to undergo certification before they can be reused in new construction.

Engineered

Engineered wood is another important market for wood waste. These are high quality waste obtained from construction sites. Generally, separating particles from demolition waste makes it more feasible to using it for engineered wood like particle board or plywood.

Environment friendly fuel

The process of recycling wood waste has a very positive effect on the environment. For example, when wood waste is used as fuel to produce electricity or steam, much less sulfur is released into the atmosphere compared to coal. However a disadvantage could be if the wood was treated with a chemical preservative. Thus it needs to be ensured that the waste wood is chemical free.

Other Uses

Among several other uses for wood waste, using it for landscaping purposes is an excellent one. Since wood is an organic material, it makes an exceptional natural mulch as well as a good addition to compost. Then there are firms that take the waste of wrecked or broken wooden pallets and refurbish them for resale. Yet others recycle lumbers from old warehouses or mills and make new post and beams out of them. It has been estimated that reusing waste wood fetches 20 to 30 times the amount of currency a seller receives from biofuel or mulch producer.

There are a whole lot of companies out there who are into recycling of wood waste. They provide the full range of quality recycling services that can be personalized to meet your specific requirements. They are all registered waste carriers with the appropriate Environment Agencies. Thereby one can be sure that all of their recycling activities comply with health and safety policies and procedures as specified by governmental agencies.