Turn Log Yard Waste Into Profit
Recover reusable aggregate, biomass fuel, and compost fines while slashing your landfill costs. Talk to an ExpertThe Reality of Log Yard Waste
Most lumber mills generate large volumes of log yard scrapings containing wood fibre, rock, fines, and oversized debris. Traditionally, this material is viewed as a disposal problem destined for landfill.
However, with the right screening and separation equipment, log yard waste can often be transformed into multiple reusable products, creating new revenue opportunities while reducing disposal costs.
In this application, a lumber mill used a Powerscreen Warrior 1800 scalping screen and Komptech Stonefex 3000E rock and wood separator to recover valuable materials from mixed log yard scrapings. The result was a cleaner site, reduced landfill requirements, and four distinct product streams.
What Are Log Yard Scrapings?
Log yard scrapings are the material that accumulates in and around lumber mill log yards over time.
They typically contain:
- Wood fibre
- Bark
- Wood chips
- Gravel and rock
- Soil and fines
- Oversized debris
As these materials become mixed together, they are often difficult to reuse without additional processing.
Many mills face rising transportation and landfill costs, making material recovery an increasingly attractive alternative.
The Challenge: Reducing Landfill While Recovering Value
The customer wanted to clean up accumulated material from the lumber mill yard and reduce dependence on landfill disposal. The ideal outcome was to:
- Recover reusable rock
- Produce a biomass fuel product
- Create a usable compostable fines product
- Separate oversize material for additional processing
- Improve overall site sustainability
Rather than treating the material as waste, the goal was to recover as much value as possible from every tonne processed.
Equipment Used
Powerscreen Warrior 1800 Scalping Screen
The Powerscreen Warrior 1800 is a heavy-duty scalping screen designed to handle challenging materials including:
- Wood waste
- Compost
- C&D waste
- Topsoil
- Blast rock
- Log yard debris
For this application, the machine utilized:
- 4-inch top deck
- ¾-inch long-slot bottom deck
The Warrior separated fines and oversized material while maintaining production rates between 90 and 110 cubic yards per hour.
Komptech Stonefex 3000E Rock and Wood Separator
The Komptech Stonefex uses differences in material density and ballistic separation to separate:
- Wood from rock
- Organic material from aggregate
- Heavy and light fractions
This technology creates cleaner end products that can be reused or marketed separately.
RECOVER 4 VALUABLE PRODUCTS
Turning Yard Scrappings Into Usable Materials.
🍃50% Compostable Fine Material
The recovered fines produced a high-quality woody compost material suitable for further processing and reuse.
🌲20% Recoverable Wood Fibre
Wood fibre was recovered as a clean product suitable for biomass and co-generation fuel applications.
🪨 15% Reusable Rock
Recovered rock could be reused within the log yard and mill operations, reducing the need to purchase replacement aggregate.
🪵 15% Oversize Material
The Warrior 1800 easily handled large oversized debris that could be further sorted or processed as required.
How the Process Works
Reduce Landfill Costs
Improve Sustainability
Recover Valuable Material
Create New Revenue Streams
Extend Landfill Life
Step 1: Screen the Material
Mixed log yard scrapings are fed into the Powerscreen Warrior 1800 using a wheel loader.
The screen separates the feed into:
- Fines (-¾”)
- Oversize material
- Mid-sized material for further separation
Step 2: Separate Rock and Wood
The screened material is then processed through the Komptech Stonefex 3000E.
The Stonefex separates:
🪨 Heavy rock fraction
🌲 Light wood fraction
This creates distinct product streams that can be reused independently.
Step 3: Recover Valuable Products
Instead of one waste stream, the operation produced four recoverable materials.
| Product | Approximate Recovery |
|---|---|
| Fines (-¾”) | 50% |
| Wood Fibre | 20% |
| Rock | 15% |
| Oversize | 15% |
Why Lumber Mills Are Investing in Material Recovery
Material recovery systems are becoming increasingly important because they help operations:
Reduce Landfill Costs
Every tonne diverted from landfill lowers transportation and disposal expenses.
Recover Valuable Products
Wood fibre, aggregate and compostable fines all have potential value when properly separated.
Improve Sustainability
Recovering materials supports corporate environmental initiatives and reduces waste.
Extend Landfill Life
Reducing disposal volumes helps preserve valuable landfill capacity.
Create New Revenue Streams
Materials that were previously discarded may become marketable products.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is log yard waste?
Log yard waste consists of accumulated wood fibre, bark, chips, rock, soil and debris collected during lumber mill operations.
Can rock be separated from wood waste?
Yes. Equipment such as the Komptech Stonefex uses density-based separation technology to effectively separate rock and wood fractions.
What can recovered wood fibre be used for?
Recovered wood fibre is commonly used as biomass fuel, co-generation fuel, compost feedstock, mulch, or landscaping material.
What can compostable fines be used for?
Woody fines can often be used in composting operations, soil amendment production, landscaping products, or land reclamation projects.
What equipment is used to process log yard scrapings?
Common equipment includes:
- Scalping screens
- Trommel screens
- Rock and wood separators
- Shredders
- Conveyors
The optimal setup depends on the material composition and desired end products.
Conclusion
For many lumber mills, log yard scrapings are no longer just a waste management problem.
With the right screening and separation equipment, these materials can become a source of recoverable aggregate, biomass fuel, compostable fines, and reusable products.
This project demonstrated how a Powerscreen Warrior 1800 and Komptech Stonefex 3000E transformed mixed log yard waste into four valuable product streams while reducing landfill dependency and improving overall site efficiency.
Ready to Recover More Value from Your Log Yard?
Foreman Equipment supplies screening, separation, shredding, and material recovery equipment for lumber mills, biomass facilities, compost operations, and wood waste recyclers across Western Canada.
Contact us today to discuss your application and find the right solution for your operation.
Call 1-888-852-9021 or Contact Us Online →