Technische Unie Strijen, known as a wholesaler of solutions for installation and industry, has 41 branches and 3 distribution centers. At the distribution center in Strijen, a large amount of wood ends up in the waste container each year. This consists largely of disposable pallets, obsolete pallets and loose wood such as beams and planks. The disposable pallets are sorted separately and removed for reuse. The obsolete pallets and wood were both previously sorted and disposed of as waste.
Transporting air
"Filling the containers with wood and stacking the pallets was a time-consuming and labor-intensive job," says Michel den Besten, Foreman Internal Service at the DC in Strijen. "Moreover, by dumping the wood loose in the waste containers, the trucks were transporting more than 60% air, despite the fact that the containers appeared to be full. Together with Milgro, a better use for this wood was sought." "This fits", as Technische Unie itself also states, "better with a beautiful raw material that, in a time when the circular economy is becoming increasingly important, should no longer bear the name 'waste'".
"Together with Milgro, we started looking for a solution that was better, more sustainable and cost-effective. We are proud to report that we succeeded."
Woodchips as raw material
The solution was found in the form of a Roll-Packer as well as another processing method. The Roll-Packer is a gigantic device that crushes old pallets and other wood into wood chips with a rotating roller. This increased the filling rate of the containers from an average of 3,200 kg to 9,000 kg.
The results
Because all the wood is now collected together and the containers no longer carry air, a reduction of 112 transport trips per year was achieved. In addition, the wood chips are taken to a recycling company that turns them into fire logs and cat litter, which (at a 50/50 split) saves about 11 tons of CO2 per year. A third gain has been achieved on the shop floor, where the job has become less time-consuming and less labor-intensive. Three times gain, that's what we call good cooperation.
Learn more
Would you like to know more about our approach or discuss the possibilities for your organization? Make an appointment now with Marco de Groot, Circular Economy Officer Logistics at Milgro.
