70 FORESTRY BRANCH BULLETIN No. 63 



In studying the wood-using industries of the province of Quebec two 

 industries were noted which appear more than any others to waste a large 

 percentage of the raw material purchased. These are the manufacture of 

 veneer where the waste is most noticeable, and, to a less degree, the manufacture 

 of boot and shoe findings. The manufacturers of veneer and of boot and shoe 

 findings receive all their wood material in the form of round logs. It is safe to 

 estimate that in manufacturing veneer made of native wood at least one-fifth 

 of the raw material purchased becomes waste. The waste is composed of the 

 core, the defective veneer, and the small ends. At the present time the greatest 

 part of the waste material is burned under the boiler, a small percentage being 

 sold for heating purposes. It seems as if it should be possible to find a more 

 economical use for such material, as the waste represents a large quantity of 

 wood. Consider, for instance, a factory which consumes 3,000,000 feet annually 

 of hardwood for the manufacture of veneer. The amount of waste resulting 

 would be about 600,000 feet, or one-fifth of the total material. It may be 

 considered that about two-fifths of this waste is inferior refuse of no marketable 

 value, only good to be burnt under boilers, but the remainder is 360,000 feet 

 board measure, or practically 650 cords. The total native wood consumed by 

 the veneer manufacturers in the province of Quebec is reported to be 5,000,000 

 feet board measure. Following the same reasoning as above, the total waste 

 resulting from the manufacture of native veneer would amount to 1,000,000 

 feet board measure of material, of which three-fifths, 600,000 feet board measure 

 (1,083 cords), could be further utilized for manufacture. 



The manufacturers of boot and shoe findings have similar waste, but in 

 much smaller quantity. 



WJiat can be suggested to better this condition? Two main things: first, 

 the establishment of side-line manufactures, for example the making of small 

 baskets, small cratings and toys; second, the baling and shipping of the material 

 to wood distillation plants. The rapid development of wood distillation presents 

 a good opportunity for the economical utilization of a good deal of the hardwood 

 waste of our wood-using manufacturers, especially where it is produced in large 

 quantities and from factories which are situated within a reasonable distance 

 . of the wood distillation plants. This holds particularly for the larger-sized 

 pieces, as the cordwood ordinarily used for hardwood distillation is cut so it 

 will just pass through an 8-inch ring and nothing under a 4-inch log is desired. 

 There are four separate wood distillation plants in the province of Quebec, and it 

 is reported that they pay at the plant about $6 per cord for their raw material. 

 At that price the waste from the veneer manufacture would represent a value of 

 about $6,400. 



Seventy manufacturers have reported the utilization of short ends, shavings, 

 and sawdust, other than for fuel. A brief review of their reports may bring 

 out some suggestions which may be of use in the more economical utilization 

 of wood waste. 



The manufacturers of boxes and crates use their material down to very 

 small pieces in the manufacture of boxes and crates of small size. Some of their 

 shavings are sold for packing purposes. 



Car manufacturers use small cuttings of hardwood for track shims. They 



