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Residuals and Solid Waste Management

Residuals management chart for pulp, paper and wood products mills

We Make the Most of Each Log

Weyerhaeuser uses almost every portion of every log in our manufacturing processes. In fact, we use an average of 97 percent of each log in our North American operations. Wood chips left over from making lumber are used to make pulp and paper. Logs too small for dimensional lumber are processed into engineered wood products such as oriented strand board. And we generate a substantial amount of energy from biomass fuels, including wood residuals.

Many of our mills actively seek partners and customers who are able to use wood residuals in their products or processes, further reducing waste. Obtaining maximum use of raw materials is a key consideration in process improvement, capital modifications, product changes and manufacturing operations.

In addition to these best practices relating to wood fiber, our manufacturing operations recycle other materials where possible.

Cellulose Fiber Mills Residual Management1
Estimated pounds of residuals per ton of production
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Burned for energy2 3,464 3,464 3,637 3,468 3,387
Deposited in landfills 86 152 157 129 106
Land-applied for soil amendment 47 10 13 24 27
Recycled or beneficially reused other than for land application 28 35 19 26 11
Incinerated 0.5 0.5 0.1 0 0
Disposed as hazardous waste3 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.494 0.003
  1. Data reflects performance of Weyerhaeuser’s 2009 portfolio of cellulose fibers mills. In March 2007, Weyerhaeuser’s fine paper business and related assets were combined with Domtar Inc. to create a new fine paper company, Domtar Corporation. In August 2008, Weyerhaeuser’s containerboard, packaging and recycling business was sold to International Paper. Operations involved in those transactions have been removed from historical data.
  2. Burned for energy both on-site and off-site.
  3. Includes recurring and nonrecurring hazardous waste.
  4. The 2008 increase in hazardous waste is due to completion of a remediation project which included disposal of hazardous waste.

Wood Products Facilities Residuals Management
Estimated pounds of residuals per ton of production at Weyerhaeuser's North American wood products facilities
2005 2006 20073 2008 2009
Burned for energy1 351 332 356 368 352
Deposited in landfills 17 21 21 14 11
Land-applied for soil amendment 11 15 15 16 14
Shipped off-site for use in other products 566 716 720 741 755
Beneficially reused other than for land application 28 27 36 18 38
Incinerated 5 6 0.1 0 0
Disposed as hazardous waste2 0.04 0.06 0.05 0.03 0.05
  1. Burned for energy both on-site and off-site.
  2. Includes recurring and nonrecurring hazardous waste.
  3. In March 2007, Weyerhaeuser’s fine paper business and related assets were combined with Domtar to create a new fine paper company, Domtar Corporation. Sawmills included in the Domtar transaction or other sales transactions have been removed from historical data.

In 2009, 83 percent of our manufacturing facilities in the United States generated no hazardous waste or were in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's lowest-risk category for hazardous waste generation.

2009 Hazardous Waste Generation Status of Weyerhaeuser Facilities in the United States
Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator Large Quantity Generator
Cellulose fibers mills 50.0% 33.3% 16.7%
Wood products manufacturing facilities 98.1% 0.0% 1.9%
Wood products distribution facilities and other 100%    


The EPA's definitions for hazardous waste generation can be found on http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/generation/index.htm .


Percent of facilities reporting recycling the following materials in 2009
Post-consumer paper 78%
Plastics 45%
Metal 77%
Batteries - vehicle and other 69%
Used Tires 65%
Used Oil 79%
Beverage containers 66%
Corrugated Cardboard 63%
Wood pallets, dunnage and construction debris 46%

Last updated June 17, 2010.