Current inventory and modelling of sawmill residues in Eastern Canada

Abstract

Integration within the forest industry in Canada historically developed to optimize use of the available timber resource. Sawmill residues, which were at one time considered waste, changed into a sought-after resource for panel and pulp manufactures. With the downturn in the Canadian forest industry and the 46.5% decrease in nationwide sawn lumber production between 2004 and 2009, the potential for utilizing sawmill residues to develop novel markets presents itself with added encouragement from national and global pressures towards creating a sustainable bio-based economy. Scarcity of information related to quantity and quality of local sawmill residue feedstocks leads to a lack of reliable data that can be used by entrepreneurs to develop sustainable supply chains for this resource. The development of an easily updateable sawmill database for all provinces, Manitoba eastwards, is explained in detail along with the comprehensive presentation of a sawmill residue output calculation model for sawdust, bark, chips/slabs, and shavings. These tools will help to predict current and future sawmill residue availability and aid in the most efficient uses of this resource in the bioeconomy.