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Residuals and Solid Waste Management

Residuals management chart for pulp, paper and wood products mills

We Make the Most of Each Log

Weyerhaeuser uses almost every portion of every log in our manufacturing processes. In fact, we use an average of 97 percent of each log in our North American operations. Wood chips left over from making lumber are used to make pulp and paper. Logs too small for dimensional lumber are processed into engineered wood products such as oriented strand board. And we generate a substantial amount of energy from biomass fuels, including wood residuals.

Many of our mills actively seek partners and customers who are able to use wood residuals in their products or processes, further reducing waste. Obtaining maximum use of raw materials is a key consideration in process improvement, capital modifications, product changes and manufacturing operations.

Pulp and Paper Mills Residual Management
Estimated pounds of residuals per ton of production at Weyerhaeuser's North American pulp and paper mills*
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 20073
Burned for energy1 2,067 2,285 2,151 2,186 2,126 1,786
Deposited in landfills 128 140 106 99 109 103
Land-applied for soil amendment 42 67 46 52 52 41
Beneficially reused other than for land application 11 7 17 12 14 11
Incinerated 0.1 0.1 1.0 1.3 2.8 0.04
Disposed as hazardous waste2 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.03 0.01
  1. Burned for energy both on-site and off-site.
  2. Includes recurring and nonrecurring hazardous waste.
  3. 2007 includes data from our Xalapa, Mexico, mill.

*Note: In March 2007, Weyerhaeuser’s fine paper business and related assets were combined with Domtar Inc. to create a new fine paper company, Domtar Corporation. Operations included in the Domtar transaction are not part of 2007 data.

Wood Products Facilities Residuals Management
Estimated pounds of residuals per ton of production at Weyerhaeuser's North American wood products facilities
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 20073
Burned for energy1 250 316 313 207 299 323
Deposited in landfills 17 18 18 11 18 16
Land-applied for soil amendment 1.4 11 13 9 13 14
Shipped off-site for use in other products 97 213 399 425 495 499
Beneficially reused other than for land application 26 46 35 97 67 98
Incinerated 21 8 7 4 5 0.1
Disposed as hazardous waste2 0.06 0.07 0.14 0.04 0.06 0.04
  1. Burned for energy both on-site and off-site.
  2. Includes recurring and nonrecurring hazardous waste.
  3. In March 2007, Weyerhaeuser’s fine paper business and related assets were combined with Domtar to create a new fine paper company, Domtar Corporation. Sawmills included in the Domtar transaction are not part of 2007 data.

Corrugated Packaging, Bag Plants and Recycling Operations Residuals Management
Estimated pounds of residuals disposed as hazardous waste per ton of production at Weyerhaeuser's U.S. corrugated packaging, bag plants and recycling operations
20041 2005 2006 20072,4
Hazardous waste3 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.03    
  1. Packaging and bag plant data first collected in 2004.
  2. Recycling plant data first collected in 2007.
  3. Includes recurring and nonrecurring hazardous waste.
  4. 2007 includes data from our Mexico operations.

In 2007, 88 percent of our manufacturing facilities in the United States were in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's lowest-risk category for hazardous waste generation.

2007 Hazardous Waste Generation Status of Weyerhaeuser Facilities in the United States
Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator Large Quantity Generator
Pulp and paper mills 40.0% 40.0% 20.0%
Wood products facilities 93.0% 3.5% 3.5%
Corrugating packaging, bag plants and recycling operations 93% 7% 0%


The EPA's definitions for hazardous waste generation can be found on http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/gen_trans/generate.htm.

Last updated May 27, 2008.