A colorful market: colored wood mulch is providing a sustained market for many wood recyclers - C&D Series

Recycling Today, Dec, 2001 by Melissa Goodrich

Colored wood mulch might be something that goes almost unnoticed because of one characteristic that makes it so popular--consistency. The even, rich tone available with colored wood mulch makes it an ideal product for landscaping applications, and a market with great potential for recyclers.

Markets for the product continue to grow and expand, creating more demand for clean wood waste and, in some areas, driving up prices for the commodity.

GAINING POPULARITY

Colored wood mulch has been around for about 10 years, says Vince Hundt, president of PCR Inc., Coon Valley, Wisc. Shredded bark was typically used for ground cover, "but as suburban culture changed and people wanted to spend more money on ground cover, a Clevelander patented adding color to industrial wood waste and making it look more attractive. Simultaneously, the recycling mandates were coming, so by adding a dash of colorant to the wood waste you have an attractive product."

The Clevelander Hundt refers to is Greg Rondy, who was the founder of AmeriMulch. The company, based in Independence, Ohio, makes both equipment and colorants that it supplies to grinder manufacturers as well as to contractors who make and apply colored mulch.

Several factors can affect demand for colored wood mulch, says Todd Schnathorst, marketing coordinator for Becker Underwood, Ames, Iowa. "There are two things that make the demand--population and wood sources," he says. "You need those two things."

Hundt says markets for colored wood mulch began in Ohio and then spread east and west. There are several areas in the South where the product is just now gaining popularity. The Ohio/Pennsylvania area is a strong market, he says, because of a healthy horticulture base. "There still seems to be a steep growth curve in those areas," Hundt says. "I think it just took a certain amount of time to catch on, as does the flow of information. The market grows as people physically see it in use and once you see two or three homes with nicely toned, soft brown colored mulch."

Mark Lyman, president, West Salem Machinery, Salem, Ore., says anything east of the Mississippi is a strong market for the product. "It appears to be really catching on. It seems to be a product people like and that has some definite advantages over some competing products, mainly shredded bark."

Florida is a strong market for colored wood mulch, as the landscaping season in that state is year-round, says Dan Brandon, marketing manager for Morbark Inc., Winn, Mich. "It is becoming really popular and seems to be growing quite steadily," he says. "The main reason for that is that we are seeing customers who are increasing the value for that waste material three and four times."

Two reasons why colored wood mulch is so popular, Lyman says, are that the product holds color longer and does not fade. Also, the product tends to hold together fairly well, which could aid in weed suppression.

Dave Frahm, customer service manager for Fecon, Cincinnati, agrees certain regions can have stronger demand for the product than others.

AN ARRAY OF COLORS

Several colors of waste wood mulch are popular, varying some by region. Brandon says red is the most popular color, by far. Morbark offers five red mulches along with gold, cypress, black, brown and dark brown.

Brian Shea, president of T.H. Glennon Co., Salisbury, Mass., agrees reds are in demand. "Red is the most popular, then there are different gold blends, browns and blacks." He says colored wood mulch is sold to both commercial and residential accounts. "The New England market is huge in terms of colorant, and New Jersey and New York are very big too. Texas and Arizona are areas that are not coloring as much."

Joe Alexander, project sales manager for Kurtz Brothers Inc., Independence, Ohio, says browns, blacks and golds are in demand, as well as customized colors such as blue and orange for schools and universities.

In southern Ohio, reds and blacks are quite popular, Frahm says, with dark brown rounding out the top three. Customized colors are also popular, but are more expensive because of the limited demand for those hues.

Frahm says mulch that is not colored will fade quickly from UV exposure and the elements. Colored mulch can withstand the elements better, although climate can affect how long a colorant stays vibrant. Colored mulch will have a more consistent color and will hold that color for a longer time, perhaps around a year or so. The degree of wear does depend on the wood type colored and the quality of wood. "It depends on the type of wood as well and how porous it is. Also, did it [the colorant] get a chance to dry and set before it rained?"

Frahm says colored wood mulch is something not often noticed until pointed out. "Until you are looking to buy some, or you are in the business to sell the equipment, do you really start to notice."

A PROFITABLE VENTURE

Wood mulch begins with shredding waste wood, most typically from pallets, packaging crates or other wood waste, as long as it is free from contaminants. Clean construction and demolition debris can also be used. Areas with logging activities and forestry are also favorable to the making of colored wood mulch, as sufficient feedstock is available.