Across North Carolina, municipalities and arboriculture businesses are faced with the problem of what to do with urban trees that are removed due to age, pests, disease or damage.
In fact, across the country, removal of urban trees produces an estimated 200 million cubic yards of wood residue annually, typically costing municipalities or businesses large sums to have that wood hauled to a waste facility.
The Southeastern Urban Wood Exchange is attempting to address this problem. “This website encourages the highest and best use of the urban wood resource by connecting the producers of the urban wood, like arborists and municipalities, with local businesses or individuals who want that wood,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This can add value and reduce the amount of wood entering the waste stream.”
The N.C. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, in partnership with the N.C. Urban Forest Council, has relaunched the website, which was previously part of the Urban Hardwood Recovery Project. The site has been revamped to serve the Southeast.
“Urban wood is an underutilized resource and marketing opportunity, and we hope that providing a way for those who have wood to connect with those who want wood will provide a service that will benefit communities, businesses and residents,” said Nancy Stairs, Urban Forestry Program coordinator with the N.C. Forest Service.
The need for improving the visibility and accessibility of the urban wood market has been amplified by the rise in invasive insects and other threats to the health of municipal trees. Stairs said renewable wood resources help cities and towns avoid disposal costs and even generate revenue that can support pruning, replanting and other tree care activities.