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At one time, you used to be able to burn any wood waste created on a jobsite. When that was no longer acceptable, you buried it in a landfill. But today, landfill space is in short supply. Higher disposal fees and tighter restrictions make it increasingly expensive and difficult to simply haul away tree stumps, logs and branches for burial at the dump.

"The EPA and several state governments are pushing to keep all organic material out of landfills," explains Mike Byram, senior director for the environmental business segment at Vermeer."Limiting the amount of wood waste that can be buried in a landfill is one of the quickest and easiest ways for them to meet their diversion rates."

Because of the changing attitude toward wood waste, contractors are relying more heavily on wood grinders as solutions to their disposal dilemma. Some simply want to reduce the amount of bulk they take to the landfill. Others are turning lemons into lemonade by creating value-added end products such as mulch, fuel and compost.

"More and more, we're seeing that it isn't just about turning big chunks of wood into little chips to send to the landfill," says Byram. "Now contractors are trying to find ways to make something they can sell. We've seen a huge increase in the United States for colored mulch, which can sell for as much as two to two and a half times more than mulch that isn't colored. And it doesn’t cost a contractor that much to add the color."

Match to material size and shape

Whatever your intent, selecting the right grinder for the job is important. The one that’s right for you boils down to personal preference and an evaluation of the application.