Recycle Wood in Your Home
January 22, 2010 – 4:31 pm
What do you normally do with extra wood? If you burn it or send it to a landfill, you need to know that there are more eco-friendly options to deal with it. Recycling your surplus wood preserves forests. Trees significantly affect our air quality, and they provide habitats for many different animals. Deforestation is increasingly becoming an issue, so it’s important to take advantage of the wood you already have before buying new.
It’s true that recycling any material requires effort, because sometimes you have to do the research to figure out how it can be recycled. However, when you do the legwork and spare some of your time, you serve as a role model for others to follow. In addition, you reduce the need to cut down trees. Below are some ways that you can make the most out of your excess pieces of wood, so some of the research is done for you.
One of the easiest ways to use words scraps is for creating, repairing or inventing items for your home. For example, you can always make bird or bat houses and squirrel feeders out of wood, which will support your backyard wildlife. If you are more creative and handy with tools, you can create personalized holiday ornaments or toys. Sheets of wood can be sanded and stained so they can be used as trays or cutting boards. Also, don’t forget to use apple, oak or hickory tree wood to smoke meat.
Sometimes organizations in your local community can benefit from your surplus wood supply. Churches and schools might be able to use it if they have shop class or craft days. Animals shelters or neighbors could build dog houses out of it. Also, the wood can be chipped into mulch and spread at a local park or flower garden. You never know who might need it until you ask around.
Once you start brainstorming ways to recycle wood, you will be surprised at how many ways you can think of. Plus, you don’t have to be a professional carpenter in order to take advantage of your extra wood.
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