How can I reuse or recycle … lots of sawdust/wood shavings?

sawdust250.jpgWe’ve had an email from Phillip Levenson:

I own a joinery manufacturers and i produce a lot of wood shavings which is mixed softwood and hardwood shavings and some dust i am struggling to dispose of it quicker than i can produce it.

I have a couple of people who take it from me who own horses. Do you know of any other ways of maybe recycling the shavings?

Untreated and unpainted wood can be composted but any reuse ideas?

(Photo by slafko)

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175 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle … lots of sawdust/wood shavings?”


  1. LeeF says:

    I use my wood shavings to put around potted garden plants instead of wood chippings etc.

  2. Rosalind says:

    Woodshavings – not sawdust – were used historically to pack fragile goods, eg china, during transport. They are excellent for this as they are quite springy and robust. Is there a green retailer out there who would be prepared to try them again? There are a lot of such retailers working through the internet – I recently bought goods from http://www.green-shopping.co.uk/index.html and they some goods were packed in newspaper, so people are open to alternative packaging. Those in receipt of the parcels would find themselves in possession of some excellent kindling, too!
    Shavings would have the same use as composted bark (which sells for about £4 a bag) – play areas, mulch, paths etc – but anything painted or treated would be inappropriate for that. I’ve used fresh green hardwood shavings for paths – they bed in nicely after looking a bit pale initially.
    Bags of woodshavings make good bedding for small pets, or chickens – I use pine sawdust which smells nice too. Good for any pets or owners allergic to straw (there are quite a lot). You can buy woodshavings from pet shops so perhaps there is a supplier whom you could supply, if ya get me.
    What about heaping the dust and shavings up, letting it all start to compost and then growing oyster mushrooms on it? Yum…

  3. Andy says:

    The sawdust is great for soaking up chemical spills such as oil, the shavings are good for starting fires and bbq’s, and you could compost some of it.

  4. Phill says:

    You can use it as an odor minimizer when you compost humanure. [Yes, Human-Manure]

  5. Delusion says:

    if its soft, maybe people with other pets could use it such as rabbit / gerbil / rat / mice / hamster owners. Or even contact a local petshop who might be able to bag and sell it.

  6. jessica says:

    its good fertilizer in the the garden for vines or something…
    i have hampsters and they use ALOT of aspen(type of shaving)I put them in my vines on the side of my house

  7. margaretnan says:

    One idea is to offer them to one of the rescue centres such as Monkey World. They would have to be chemical free I would imagine but I can’t think of a better cause.

  8. Hun Boon says:

    I think these would make great fire starters for BBQ.

    You could package and re-sell them at a good profit, given that your production cost is basically zero.

  9. ben says:

    some greenhouses use sawdust and woodchips as furnace fuel both winter and summer. You could see if there is a greenhouse nearby that uses it.

    The greenhouse a friend of mine helps run burns through two dumptruck loads every week, winter and summer.

  10. Donna says:

    Not sure but I have a yard full of horse owners who would be more than happy to take it off your hands, as much as you can supply!

  11. Christovir says:

    Many biomass generators can take wood shavings – turn that wood into green electricity!

  12. Tina Guthrie says:

    Hi Philip,

    My friend and I have horses and we would gladly take a large amount from you eg. A ton at a time if needed. Where are you located? My e-mail is tinamaria.guthrie@btinternet.com.

    Hope to hear from you soon!

    Kind regards,

    Tina

  13. Ricky lee says:

    Hi Phillip,

    I would probably even buy them off you if they are a consistent sample. Depending on your location of course!!??

    fubar440@hotmail.co.uk

    Cheers! Rick

  14. distrubbed says:

    there was a program on How do they do that where sawdust/ shavings were compressed to make BBQ/ chiminea logs. Could be an alternative income after initial outlay

  15. nick says:

    i have a joinery manufacturers shop in west bromwich west midlands and i also have lots of sawdust and shavings which are a mixture of harwoods and softwoods.
    if anyone would like to take it from me every week i would be really gratefull to you, please let me know.
    nick@justoakjoinery.com

  16. Chantel says:

    Hi,

    If anyone is based in South Wales, they can happily dump a ton or 2 or 3 here!!

    shan168@hotmail.co.uk

  17. Joseph says:

    Hi,

    I have alot of saw dust available. Also a lot of timber plywoog cut off ranging from 7inchs to 15inchs. All timber has been heat treated. If anyone is interested please email me at joseph@woodlandsxp.com. I am based in Manchester.

    Regards, Joseph

    • karenf6532 says:

      hi, i have a lot of horses and would be willing to take large amounts off your hands weekly. could you please let me know if this is possible. regards, karen. (karenfinney@blueyonder.co.uk)

  18. mario says:

    hi, try to pull a shaving apart useing your hands, they are very strong. I used mine in cement and also lime morter for the walls, you can find all this on eco house building, Mario

  19. Mac says:

    Sawdust/wood shavings I see some guys are wonting this I am in near Andover / Basingstoke Winchester. at SP11.in the UK. please have what you like free it is damp as stacked out side but good for mulching on beds or composting etc. please mail me at bigmacstoke@yahoo.co.uk
    thanks Mac

  20. Graham sugden says:

    hi i collect sawdust so if in a 40 mile radus of huddersfeild and intressted please keep reading

    i aim to provide a friendly efficient service completely at your convenience. We can work to your
    demands – perhaps outside shop floor or manufacturing
    hours. We could collect your waste quickly,
    efficiently and leaving your workspace free for you to
    utilise to your full capacity.

    I have a lorry that i use to extract shavings and
    sawdust from collection stores. I do this with a 10
    inch flexible pipe the sawdust is blown out at a high
    rate meaning very little down time.

    This would be a all year service and i will always be
    available to take your waste summer or winter.

    At the moment i remove sawdust and shavings from
    several companies all that would be
    willing to supply a references if required.

    If you need to contact me my number is 07903419567
    grahamdsugden@yahoo.co.uk
    thanks for your time.

    Graham

  21. Hi,

    We are a joinery company located in Gateshead Tyne & Wear and at the moment produce around 4 cubic meters of wood shavings every week.

    If there is anyone out there who is interested in using this for bedding or any other purpose they are more than welcome to as much as they can take away.

    You can contact me regarding this by email paul@mastercnc.co.uk

    Paul

  22. rachel jopson says:

    Morning,if anybody would like to dump a few ton of shavings with us we would be greatful! We are in the Huddersfield area of West Yorkshire.
    andy.rachjopson@yahoo.com

  23. Draes says:

    It would make excellent stuffing – for things like large dog cushions or stuffed animals, especially if it is fragrant. It could be marketed to crafters for such a purpose.

  24. shaun says:

    hi if you are lincs there lot me now as i can use in my kennels and cow sheds

  25. Lucy says:

    We are a joinery company based in Suffolk – woodshavings available to anyone who can make good use of them. Can be supplied in large polythene sacks.

  26. carlos says:

    i’ve seen people use sawdust for cleaning up vomit, specifically in elementary school settings.
    as mentioned above, it helps dry up chemicals.

  27. i ll take some of you depending on location of course for my piggies and ive loads of folk who would as well

  28. becky says:

    I live in northants area and would be grateful for any shavings for horses will bag up and remove as long as they are dry..
    thanks

  29. Gulia says:

    Stuff with them an old hosiery, or any fabric tube, tie up the ends. You have a nice base for making a wreath.

    Fill with them a tube of fabric and use to stop drifts under the door or between the windows.

  30. andy says:

    We are a joinery company based in kidderminster and produce a huge amount of woodshavings. anyone they are of use to is free to collect.

  31. Jeff says:

    I live in the Preston area (Lancs)and would be very grateful for any woodshavings for my chickins and rabbits

  32. ashley says:

    hiya im looking for a regular supply of woodshavings/sawdust for my hutches and pens, if you can send me a msg on how i can collect id be so grateful as were finding it hard to locate it in large amounts!where in gateshead? thanx, getlaced@yahoo.co.uk

  33. Jayne says:

    Hi,

    I am in North Lincs and would love to help out any Joinery business to take away woodshaving, will bag and collect nut they must be dry mail me if any body near by

  34. HSMel says:

    Hi – Anyone with woodshavings/sawdust in the Reading/Basingstoke/Newbury vicinity please feel free to contact me – I would gladly collect large quantities if it is dry. Could provide polythene sacks for you to put it into if this helps. Please email me at hsmel@hotmail.com. Many thanks.

  35. Di says:

    I live in the Saffron Walden/Royston/Great Dunmow area. I would be very interested in dry wood shavings for horses. I can bag up and collect!

  36. Diane says:

    I am looking for a regular supply of shavings in the wirral area, can collect, anyone who can help please get in touch x

  37. CBH JOINERY LTD says:

    we have lots of mixed shavings for free collection WOLVERHAMPTON AREA WEST MIDS

    • Natalie says:

      Hi,

      Please can you call me/mail me and I will come and collect all of your shavings.
      I have horses and shavings are needed all year long, so anything would be much appreciated.

      (I live in Penn).
      Tel: 07867 687723

      Look forward to hearing from you
      Natalie

  38. arwen taylor says:

    I live in Bacup in lancashire and have a horse, I would be delighted to collect excess shavings.

  39. Ruth says:

    I too have a horse and would be very interested in collecting shavings.

  40. sabina edwards says:

    hi i live and keep my horse in the huddersfield and am in desperate need of some shavings if you could tell me exactly were you are i will gladly pick some up my email address is bimbo.93@hotmail.co.uk plz get in touch .

  41. NIGEL ELDAY says:

    Hi I am a greyhound owner and know that greyhound trainers are willing to pay you for softwood shavings and sawdust and would be a regular outlet for your waste.Please contact me for more details

    NIGEL

  42. sarah grace says:

    Hi i live in mirfield and have horses on a livery yard me and a few friends would be more than happy to bag and collect as much shavings as you have can call on a weekly basis or monthly any where in the west yorkshire area please email me at sjgrace@hotmail.co.uk thanks sarah

  43. christine staley says:

    Hi i and a lot of my friends in the nottinghamshire area are in need of shavings if anybody knows of anywhere around here i can get some from.
    Free or small price, willing to clean and bag up myself.
    dudess2@hotmail.com

  44. hi im looking for wood shavings for my rabbits and hamsters i live in south elmsall so any one nows any boby wot is giving any away please email me thank you

  45. hi im looking for wood shavings for my rabbits and hamsters i live in south elmsall so any one nows any body who is giving away wood shavings please email me thank you stevensond@talktalk.net

  46. I was at my son’s school last year making a paper mache island and need sand to make the wee bays and beaches and asked Joey the caretaker for Sand and got Sawdust. They always have plenty on hand for when the kids puke up!!!!

    Just thought you’d all like to know that!

  47. SIMON ELLIS says:

    EMAIL ME IF ANYONE HAS SHAVINGS THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET RID OFF IN THE STAFFORDSHIRE/ STOKE ON TRENT AREA BUYATICKET@HOTMAIL.CO.UK
    THANKS

    SIMON

  48. sue says:

    ring me if anyone has iny shavings they want to get rid of i will cvolletc on a regular basis and use for horse bedding
    01908 321260



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