From Byproduct to Bio-product: Northern Californians are Making it Happen

Many of us have felt the satisfaction of keeping paper, cans and plastic out of landfills. But did you know that northern California businesses and programs are similarly keeping biomass out of landfills and repurposing them into everyday products—also known as bio-products?

Bio-products can be everyday-use products made from renewable organic material or biomass. Historically, agricultural waste was burned. Excess wood, stalks and husks were burned for warmth, cooking and for waste elimination. Alternatively, the waste may also end up in landfills if not separated into areas designated for green waste.

Rather than burning or filling up landfills, local businesses and programs have found low energy, ingenious ways to extend the life and usefulness of these products.

The Tehama County/Red Bluff Landfill offers free mulch and wood chips for locals, made from the recycled wood waste.

Eco-Shell is the eco-responsible backbone of many useful products

Based in Corning, the Crain family has been growing and processing quality English walnuts in the Sacramento Valley since 1960. The business has transformed into one of the largest walnut-producing operations in the world, necessitating the development of a byproducts division. In 1995, Eco-Shell, Inc. was founded — and with it the opportunity to provide biodegradable, non-toxic, environmentally safe and cost-effective walnut shell products to an array of industries.

What could have been walnut waste is now used worldwide for cosmetics, filtration, cleaning, animal bedding and for producing high quality countertops, gun stocks, baseboards, cutting boards, bowls, plates, cups and more.

Cats love eco-friendly Naturally Fresh cat litter made from locally sourced walnut shells.

Happy cat and happy home with local, walnut-based cat litter

Who would have thought that the best clay alternative, eco-friendly cat litter, according to Spruce Pets comes from our very own Tehama County walnut orchards? Naturally Fresh Cat Litter is one of Eco-Shell’s innovative, sustainable, naturally occurring and renewable products.

Three area pet stores carry this amazing product that is produced right in their own backyards. Trailblazer Pet Supply in Chico “loves Naturally Fresh because it is all natural, biodegradable, safe for pets and repurposes a waste product. These are all TrailBlazer values.”

Aquarium and Pets in Red Bluff says, “Our customers and their pets all have good things to say about Naturally Fresh. Not only does it work well to control odor, but it’s locally sourced and produced, it’s biodegradable and all natural. What’s not to love?”

Happy Tails Wholistic Pet Wellness in Redding has also had good customer response and feedback. One employee says “This is my favorite cat litter. It is made from walnut shells and is very light. The cat box is easy to clean because this litter clumps perfectly. It absorbs odors well and controls ammonia odors better than other litters I have tried. Five Star Rating!”

Naturally Fresh organically neutralizes odor without any perfumes and it keeps your pet and house free of toxic silica dust. Clay litter is strip mined and often contains artificial perfumes. You can rest easy knowing Naturally Fresh comes from the byproducts of local walnut trees and is minimally processed in solar-powered facilities.

Beautify your landscape with local, recycled wood products

Gardening season is upon us and what could be more satisfying than controlling weeds and retaining moisture with locally sourced wood products?

Shasta Forest Products, Inc. in Yreka repurposes wood byproducts for decorative landscape bark, mulches and soil amendment products throughout California, Southern Oregon and Nevada. They also manufacture playground wood fiber which is used in playgrounds for schools, city parks and home playground facilities. Their website states that, “We deliver these products in our own semi-trucks. Many of our trucks are doubles, so we can deliver two different products at the same time.” Shasta Forest Products is local, 100% employee owned and they deliver.

If you don’t mind picking up your own wood products, the Tehama County/Red Bluff Landfill offers free mulch and wood chips for locals. The mulch and wood chips come from the recycled wood waste collected biweekly in the waste haulers’ green waste bins and every day from self-haul customers and landscape crews. Paul Freund, Organic Materials Program coordinator, explains, “When people come to get the mulch, they must check in at the scale house to be weighed in and sign the liability waiver. People can take as much as they want but will have to fill their containers or trailer themselves. Once they have the desired amount, they will weigh out on the outbound scale and not be charged. The wood chips and mulch are typically available year-round, but to be sure the landfill has it you can contact the scale house directly by calling (530) 528-1102.”

So next time you look at an airport tarmac or even while exfoliating your own skin, the clean result may be due to local Eco-Shell repurposed walnut shells. Or while considering adding fresh mulch for your trees or additives for your garden, first look to local sources of re-purposed wood waste. We can all work together to support our planet and be eco-responsible.