Turning Waste Into Value
The Mulch Center
At a time when we are all seeking new ways to recycle and be green, Jim Seckelmann, founder of The Mulch Center in Deerfield, IL, has found a way to do his part. Recognizing inefficiencies in the handling of wood waste from his tree business, Jim decided to turn a waste stream into a value stream that would benefit his business, his clients and the environment.
In a report issued by the North American Wood Waste Forum, it was estimated that, in 2010, over 64 million metric tons of solid wood was disposed of in landfills in the United States and Canada. As the owner of a tree company, Jim had seen this practice firsthand and decided to give his wood waste a second life in the form of mulch.
Starting small Jim purchased a used tub grinder to grind his wood waste turning it into re-useable organic mulch. His first year he gave most of the mulch away stating it was a lot better than filling up the landfill and paying the excessive dump fees. By the second year he recycled over 6,000 yards. In 2012, his business accepted over 200,000 yards of wood waste generated from local municipalities, tree and landscape companies. From this one time waste product, The Mulch Center is now able to manufacture 12 different varieties of high quality organic mulch. The larger logs are picked up by a local sawmill to be milled into a variety of sizes that will ultimately be utilized for furniture manufacturing, homebuilding and many other high end applications.
From parks to playgrounds to residential and commercial landscapes, mulch offers a number of benefits, both aesthetic and functional. With a variety of available colors and styles, mulch can give your landscape a clean, uniform, well groomed appearance while also improving the health and beauty of your trees, shrubs, flower beds and vegetable gardens. Whether you’re looking for certified playground mulch, leaf mulch, compost, planting bed mix or mulch with a pleasing aroma you can pick and choose the type that works for you. In addition to customizing your landscape and giving it a unique flavor, mulching is one of the best things we can do to duplicate mother nature.
To learn more about The Mulch Center and to read some great tips and best practices for adding mulch to your own landscape, visit www.mulchcenter.com or call (847) 459-7200.
