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Bulletin
Upcycle Urban Wood: Putting Urban Tree Waste to Work
Although it is the mission of the Arbor Day Foundation to inspire the planting and nurturing of trees, a fact of life is that some trees come down. It may be on their own due to storms, and sometimes it is through management practices as trees succumb to insects, encroach on wires, or become dangerous.
What happens next is also part of good stewardship — and there is good news to report.
Addressing colleagues in the commercial tree care sector, Rick Howland sums up the tree waste “problem” nicely in the February 2019 issue of Tree Care Industry. “Tree waste has become anything but that. Green material that a decade ago represented a business cost has become a valuable raw material. The age of zero waste is upon us. It is reducing the negative impact of tree work on the environment while saving operating costs (dumping fees). It is also the foundation of many profit centers for tree care companies, contributing 10, 20, or even 25% or more to the bottom line. Tree trash is now treasure.”
As communities lose trees to insect invasions and other causes, emphasis continues to be on the need to replant. However, it behooves tree boards and other organizations, as well as interested individuals, to promote the use of wood from removed trees. “Repurposing” seems to be the popular word for this important process. Not only will this reduce pressure on landfills, it contributes to the economic health of green industries and recognizes the beauty and benefits of wood that can continue beyond the life of living trees. This issue of the bulletin illustrates some of the ideas and successes that are making burdensome tree waste a thing of the past. All have great potential for much wider adoption throughout the nation.
In This Bulletin
Here’s what’s inside:
- Beautiful Lumber from Once-Beautiful Trees – producing unique wood from felled hardwood trees
- Regional Organizations Lend a Hand - networks and partnerships putting urban tree material to good use
- Objets d’Art – waste wood in the hands of talented artists
- Strictly Useful – practical uses for waste wood
- Local Use is Good Use – preventing the spread of invasive insects