Organic Materials Management

Urban Wood Waste

Urban wood is the portion of the waste stream that can include discarded wood products, whole trees, pruned branches or stumps generated during street and park maintenance. The primary constituents of urban wood waste are used lumber, trim, shipping pallets, trees, branches, and other wood debris from construction and demolition clearing and grubbing activities. The following fact sheet suggests various ways to reuse this valuable resource:

• Urban Wood Waste Fact Sheet (Word document)

Of the four million tons of urban wood entering the waste stream, the majority comes from two sources: wood waste from activities related to construction, demolition, and renovation; and packaging (such as pallets) used to transport goods. Thus, the vast majority of urban wood is generated in the state's large urban centers. See the Market Status Report for more details.

In recent years, plant diseases (Sudden Oak Death, Pitch Canker) and pests (bark beetles) are causing unprecedented tree mortality in rural communities and several forested areas of California. The wood waste generated in coastal and southern California regions due to the associated tree mortalities will impact recycling efforts statewide. Fortunately, these pest problems are not common to most urban communities. More information regarding urban forestry and forest pest management can be found at the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection web site.

Last updated: April 23, 2008