Did you ever wonder what happens to the wood from a commercial tree trimming? It rarely goes to waste. Instead, it’s repurposed. Exactly how it can be used depends on the species, quality, and size of the wood. Most of it becomes landscaping products, raw manufacturing materials, or fuel.
Mulch and Wood Chips
Most brush and small branches can be chipped on-site or sent to a local processing facility. The wood chips can then be sold to landscape suppliers to use as mulch. They may also be donated to a neighborhood park or given to area homeowners for free, eliminating any disposal fees.
Firewood
If thick branches or hardwood logs are left behind after commercial tree trimming, they can be sold for firewood. They’ll be cut, split, and seasoned for this purpose. Some companies will donate this wood to families in need or local charities.
Commercial Lumber
Some of the wood can be sold to log yards or sawmills. This would be the high-quality, straight logs from species such as maple, oak, or walnut. Once milled, this wood can be used for furniture or construction projects.
Biomass Energy
Excess wood chips and lower-grade pieces can be sent to biomass power plants. They will burn this wood waste to generate renewable electricity. They can also use this wood waste for heating large-scale operations.
Industrial Fiber Products
If the wood isn’t suitable for any of the above-mentioned uses, it can be sent to a chip mill. The chips can be used to make cardboard, paper products, and particle board for building furniture.
Eco-Friendly Disposal
The wood may be left on-site after large-scale clearing operations. When this happens, the wood will naturally decompose, which allows the nutrients to return to the soil. It can also provide wildlife habitats.
Your Personal Use
If you’re having the trees trimmed on your commercial property, you can negotiate what happens to the wood waste. You can ask the tree service provider to leave the wood chips for you to use as mulch. If there are larger logs, ask if they’ll cut them so that you can use them as fuel.
Drop-Off Centers
Many cities and towns have dedicated recycling centers that businesses can take advantage of. They often charge for disposal. You can also find out if your city offers any type of curbside brush pickup for commercial properties.
Always ask your tree service company how they dispose of the wood from commercial tree trimming. If you can’t make use of this wood yourself, consider donating it or having it sent to a company that will be glad to utilize it for their own projects. When you need commercial tree services in Santa Rosa, CA, contact TreePro Professional Tree Care.