Economic Potentials for Baling Wood Shavings and Sacking Sawdust in Four Western Resource Conservation and Development Project Areas

Excerpts from the report Summary: Demand exists for baled shavings and sacked sawdust produced by lumber byproduct processing firms in many areas of the West. Poultry producers use large quantities of shavings and sawdust for litter, and cattle producers and mink ranchers employ this material for bedding. Butcher shops, garages, and certain packing plants require it for special purposes. In addition, baling and sacking operations contribute to community environment by reducing air pollution in some Western lumber regions. Major factors to consider before investing in a baling or sacking firm are the supply of raw materials and the potential area demand. The firm should be assured of a continuing raw material supply to meet the plant's requirements. At present, firms in Utah are unable to meet the demand for baled shavings, principally because of an inadequate raw material supply. Potential demand should be analyzed thoroughly to determine the amount of finished product that could be sold. If demand exceeds the raw materials supplied by one mill, the firm may be wise to locate centrally for collection of raw materials from two or more mills. Since only one firm with a wood shavings-baling operation was located in the Research Conservation and Development (RC&D) study areas, numerous baling and sacking firms in or near Salt Lake City were analyzed for this report. The data obtained from these firms, however, are applicable to the four RC&D areas under consideration.