The Million-Dollar Business of Wood Waste in the US

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Every year, Americans lose about 36 million trees growing in cities to disease, pollution, and urbanization. It's not a great sign for the environment, that's for sure. But why else should we care?

As it is, these dead trees usually end up in a landfill, where they can sit and decay for years. But if preserved properly... this dead wood can be worth millions of dollars. Consider this: if all 46 million tons of usable urban wood in the US were used, it could generate an annual revenue of $786 million.

Small businesses and communities across the country have started tapping into the economic potential of this resource, and one city in particular is changing the way we manage wood waste in the US.

From Elkhart, Indiana to Sacramento, California, reusing dead wood has become a national movement. We visited Baltimore, Maryland, where Camp Small, a 5-acre wood collection facility, is creating a market for local wood by salvaging dead trees and partnering with local businesses to make benches, play spaces, and furniture pieces for the community.