Goal and Objectives

The short-term goal of this proposal is to demonstrate how the woody material (logs, limbs and bark) created in implementing the quarantine can be recycled into products, thus reducing the amount of material requiring disposal. This will reduce local disposal costs and in turn reduce the costs of quarantine implementation. The long-range goal is to develop local infrastructure that enables the recycling of all woody material created in caring for the urban and suburban forests of the region. Developing this system will create both economic and environmental benefits in the region.

In order to accomplish these goals the following activities will be conducted:

  • Resource and Market Characterization
    There is limited knowledge about the ash resource in the quarantine area. Although assumptions can be made about forest-grown trees in the area, street tree quality is more problematic. Estimates of volume by size class are available from a survey done in the summer of 2002. Additional information on log quality is needed to determine the best economic options for processing this material. Once the resource is characterized this information will be publicized and disseminated to potential users such as mill operators, timber buyers, business development experts, entrepreneurs, and other interested parties.

    There is limited knowledge of the markets for this material in the Detroit area. Identification of potential users, the prices per ton or cubic yard that they are willing to pay, and the quality/quantity of new material they can use is needed.
  • Training
    This value-added recovery system includes several major training opportunities. First is the training of city foresters, tree service companies, city maintenance staff, park superintendents, road commission tree crews, and arborists in tree grading, log grading, log bucking and transportation. The second training opportunity is for the chipping site managers regarding log storage, log processing options, and markets. The third opportunity is for local sawmill operators to better understand this resource. This would include information on log quality, metal detection technologies; log processing systems and the subsequent lumber recovery. Additional training opportunities may arise based on project development.
  • Value-Added Manufacturing Demonstrations
    Potential products include landscape materials (chips, mulch), and solid wood items (lumber, timbers, and railroad ties). Some of these products are valued at $200 to $1000 per thousand board feet (Mbf). As an example, an 11-inch log contains about 42 bd. ft. of lumber. This log might be worth $16.00 as a railroad tie ($380/Mbf) or $18.00 as factory grade lumber. New products include use as a carbon source for compost and as a feedstock for bio-oil production. Each of these products can be manufactured from a portion of the fiber resource that is removed during implementation of the quarantine strategy. Full utilization of this material will also provide both economic benefits and good public relations opportunities.

    The value-added manufacturing component will be done in cooperation with the ash disposal site contractors, communities, tree services and other private businesses in the affected counties. Specific manufacturing demonstrations of these products will be conducted in cooperation with industry partners.

Targeting Michigan's core emerald ash borer infestation area of Lenawee, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties.