Driven by state and local mandates such as green waste diversion rules and no-burn regulations, private contractors and government entities from coast to coast are joining the growing ranks of those who chip, grind, compost, and otherwise process green waste. Some do it for profit, some do it as a public service, but one thing they all have in common is the need for special equipment to tackle this demanding job.
Initial Q & A
Researching and selecting the appropriate equipment is the first, and perhaps the most important, step in establishing a successful – and profitable – wood and green waste processing business. Manufacturers, like Morbark, offer a wide array of grinders, screens, and other material handling equipment, and equipment needs will vary from one operation to another. Consequently, the time spent on planning and research can be a wise investment.
Begin by determining:
- Your goals
- What type and volume of material you will be processing?
- Are interested in simple volume reduction or total recycling?
- What are the potential markets for your end-products?
- Where will you be operating?
- Do you need a mobile or stationary operation?
Questions will crop up as you go along, but a few basic answers will steer you in the right direction. For example, to reduce whole trees and big limbs, a whole tree chipper probably is best because it can quickly handle tree-length material. Throw stumps, root balls, brush, pallets, and yard waste into the mix, however, and a grinder – not a chipper – may be necessary.
Whole tree chips can be marketed in some areas, but if you want to manufacture today’s popular shredded landscape mulch, a hammermill grinder may be the better choice; and to further enhance the value and marketability of the end-product, you may want to consider a mulch coloring unit.
Ultimately, your equipment purchases will be determined by what you want to do. And knowing your goals up front will bring you closer to making a wise purchasing decision.
