How to Recycle Wood Products
Recycling wood is not as common as recycling plastic or aluminum cans. However, it should not be neglected as there are many benefits. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, wood waste accounts for approximately 17% of total waste received at municipal solid waste landfills in the United States in 1999. Recycling wood decreases landfill operator and haulage costs while freeing up landfill space thereby extending landfill life. Recycled wood in the form of wood chips can be used as an alternative energy source for generating electricity since wood burns cleaner than coal. Recycling wood is good for the economy and creates additional businesses by creating innovative uses for recyclable wood products.
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Instructions
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Identify Markets for Recyclable Wood
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Paper can be made from recyclable wood. The first step in recycling wood is to locate demand and identify all possible markets. Possible markets include those that manufacture landscaping products, animal bedding, furniture, paper products, adhesives, door panels, fence posts, utility poles, and wood chips. Wood chips can be used to enhance public gardens and highways and suppress weed growth.
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Musical instruments provides a good supply of wood for recycling. The next step is to determine a reliable supply of wood waste for recycling. Wood waste may include wood from demolished buildings, discarded pallets, cardboard containers, boats, fencing, musical instruments, toys, and various other sources from industrial, commercial, and residential activities.
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Estimate the type and quantity of wood you can handle. Wood waste must be identified by its quality and sorted to determine how it will be processed. Wood waste from residential and commercial wood frame construction is the most desirable because it tends to be clean and has a greater potential for reuse. Wood from demolition operations generates the least desirable form due to its low value from contamination from other materials. Wood waste from demolition operations is commonly used for boiler fuel. Wood waste to be processed into animal bedding or children's playgrounds must be free from pesticides and other contamination.
The value of wood recovered varies depending on the quality. Those that can be recovered into lumber can be as much as 32 times higher than those used for biomass fuel or mulch.
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Research on the most suitable wood processing equipment for your needs. Wood processing machines can identify and decontaminate wood to improve the quality. A large amount of investment in machinery and equipment for processing the wood is required.
Ensure you have the right equipment to process the different types of wood waste obtained. Wood processing equipment includes various grinders and shredders. Identify your budget and the quantity of wood required for recycling to determine the type of machine to purchase. Large wood shredders can process as much as 30 tons of material an hour. Research on the various types of equipment and contact manufacturers for specifications.
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Tips & Warnings
Even though recycling wood generates many benefits including the conservation of natural resources and preservation of American's forests, there are also a few environmental concerns. For example, wood treated with preservatives such as creosote, can leach chemicals into the environment, thereby potentially harming animals and human health.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit wood image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com paper image by max blain from Fotolia.com piano image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com petrified wood chips image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
