How Woody Residuals are Recycled in the United States

Solid waste wood is typically not considered to be an important recyclable commodity. However, for decades, wood residues from primary timber processing facilities have been made into usable products. Nearly all particleboard produced in the United States, for example, is made from such residues. Wooden pallets, once destined for landfills after only a few trips, are now being repaired and recycled at increasing rates. About one-third of all pallets produced annually are made from recycled wood. Solid waste wood from construction and demolition sites and from the municipal solid waste stream is also gaining importance as a wood resource.



An important step in developing solid waste wood into a viable resource is to quantify the amounts of waste available by source and type of material. Three major sources of wood waste exist in the United States: 1) Municipal solid waste; 2) Construction and demolition waste; and 3) Wood residues from primary timber processing mills. Each source generates distinctly different types of wood waste, with differing degrees of recyclability. To determine quantities of each source, the factors estimated were total amount of waste generated, amount of waste wood generated, and amount of waste wood available for further recovery in 1998. Trends since 1990 were also examined.



Estimates were based on published waste generation rates and recoverability, measures of economic activity, and trends in virgin wood use in specific markets. These estimates provide consistent information for the 1990s and update similar estimates made for 1993, 1994 and 1996 (McKeever 1995, 1996, 1998). Estimates of residues left in the forests from logging or cultural operations, waste wood from other lesser sources, and other nonwood agricultural wastes were not included, nor were estimates of debris from catastrophic natural events, which may be disposed of outside of the three principal waste streams examined here.



NOW COMES THE HARD PART



Having a contract in hand to supply almost 140,000 tons of wood is a real plum. The hard part is getting that much wood to CanFibre’s plant in Riverside. “The California Integrated Waste Management Board estimated that there are two million tons of scrap wood in this area, and only 20 percent is recycled,” says Heaney. “But we’re finding that it’s tough to find what we need.”



The disparity in what should be available, and what Apollo can attract at a price competitive with disposal options, has caused it to stretch its supply lines. “We’ve had to reach further geographically than we expected,” says Heaney. While 75 percent comes from sources within 40 miles of Fontana, it has had to go as far as 125 miles to get enough wood. “That hasn’t helped our economics,” he adds.



The CanFibre process doesn’t require any particular grade or species of wood; however, it can’t utilize green waste, nor can it use painted or treated wood. “Our biggest suppliers are furniture, cabinet and pallet manufacturers,” says Heaney. Another major source are companies that build roof trusses. The next level down are non-wood using companies that have wood residuals as a by-product of their operation. “There are a lot of warehouses around here that have to throw out pallets and crating,” he explains. “Another source is new home construction.”



For these types of suppliers, Apollo provides roll-off service, which also has been a challenge. “We currently have seven roll-off units,” says Heaney. “But as CanFibre gets to capacity, we’ll need more. And it’s a six- month wait for the vehicles.” Even now, Apollo’s fleet can’t service all of its clients, and contracts with two haulers to provide additional service.



Currently, about 65 percent of the wood Apollo supplies to CanFibre comes from its roll-off service. Because Can-Fibre wants only unprocessed wood (so it can ensure quality control), Apollo’s roll-offs go directly from the generator to the plant