The Generation and Utilization of Residuals from Composite Panel Products‪.‬

The typical composite panel plant in North America generates over 100 tons per day of residuals while manufacturing hardboard, particleboard, or medium density fiberboard (MDF). Usually, over 90 percent of these materials are either returned to the manufacturing process or burned to generate process heat. Residuals are also generated by secondary manufacturers during the conversion of panels to finished consumer products. There is less opportunity to recycle these materials internally, so disposal outlets must be found. In this article, the residual generation and utilization practices of manufacturers of both primary and secondary composite panel products are characterized. Opportunities for downstream recycling are identified and discussed, and suggestions for enhancing residual utilization are offered.