Composting of Mixed Wood Debris as an Alternative to Landfilling, 1995 Environmental Conference Proceedings

James M. Bundy, P.E.

Frasier O. Bingham

Donnie Babb

A sawmill in Alabama had accumulated a large amount of mixed wood debris over a long period of time. An engineering consulting firm was retained to compare available alternatives for disposing of, or managing, the collected material

Landfilling and on-site composting were the two choices selected for detailed analysis. Landfilling rated favorably in the categories of handling efficiency and disposal of other inert waste. In the categories of environmental permitting, cost, permanent loss of land, potential income and opportunity for public relations, composting was the favored method.

The client selected composting over landfilling.

Alabama environmental approval was secured within two months, and a composting operation is now processing the accumulated material at a great financial savings to the sawmill.

Personnel and equipment already available at the site manage the accumulated wood debris for a small fraction of the cost that would have been incurred had a landfill been developed and used. Because mixed wood debris is not an environmentally dangerous material, it does not require the degree of management seen in landfilling and the associated expense.

As an added bonus, composting can produce a needed product and is a process favored by the environmental community.