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On Sustainability

Mon Apr 17 '17 @ 9:26AM By: Matthew Meyer


Minimizing the ecological footprint of your woodshop

It’s easy to think new fangled terms like “sustainability” are passing fads or the concern of well meaning but misguided liberals. Who has the time to think about all the ways we might be wasting earth’s resources or adding a tiny bit of pollution? We want to get our projects done.

Some simple practices and a recognition that even small steps can not only save us time and money but also be good for the environment.

Waste

My Grandfather would have instantly recognized some of the ideas around this notion of sustainability and often chided us to “Waste not, want not”.

Consider the amount and types of waste your produce in your woodshop. Does all of it need to go into the landfill?

Many materials we use are recyclable and some are bio-degradable.

Composting

Shavings and saw dust from solid wood (not plywood, osb, mdf or pressure treated) are rich in carbon and a necessary ingredient for quality organic compost. Particularly in the summer months when green grass trimmings are abundant, many gardeners struggle to find enough “brown” material to add to their compost mix. Dead leaves, dry branches and grass are plentiful in autum but without them to add to the compost mix you end up with a stinking pile of green trimmings. Many gardeners would welcome a supply of already shredded “brown” material to add to their compost.

Ask around in your community to see who has a compost pile or start one for yourself. Your wood waste can be turned into “black gold” in a matter of a few weeks.

Recycling / Up-cycling

If you have good amounts of shorts or off-cuts, consider putting them in the driveway with a simple “free” sign nearby. You’d be surprised how quickly someone will come along to find a new home and use for them.

For larger quantities or lower trafficked streets, consider using the free listing serivces such as craigslist or other sites.

Hazardous Materials

Working with petroleum based finishes results in waste which really shouldnt end up down the drain or sent to landfill.

Most cities and municipalities have free hazardous waste collection centers that are convienent and simple to use. Some even hold mobile collection events usually in municipal parks or sometimes at auto parts stores in your neighborhood.

Ask your local authorities or search the web for Household Hazardous Waste collection in your area.

Consider Water based finishes

Our tried and true solvent based finishes are hard to let go of and the cleaner alternatives have not always been as high quality. In recent years huge advances have been made in the quality and durability of water based finishes. General Finsishes, in particular has an outstanding line of water based finishes that are often easier to work with than the petroleum based ones and make clean-up much much safer and fast.

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