Constructive Lumber Reuse Helps Cut Landfill Waste in Moorhead Area Minnesota Materials Exchange Catalog cover, Issue 2- 2000   Becker County Reports that it will cut landfill waste in half by 2001 through materials exchange. Constructive Lumber Reuse Helps Cut Landfill Waste in Moorhead Area While many see used wood and construction material as refuse, environmental program coordinator Jim Fick sees unlimited opportunities. One year ago, Jim devised a business plan to recover wood and other construction materials from landfills. He quickly learned about an upcoming Materials Exchange grant project in the Moorhead area covering the counties of Becker, Clay and Wilkin. Since joining the West-Central Materials Exchange program in July 1999, Jim has overseen the recovery of about 70 tons of reusable lumber, which is given away to residents of the three counties. The program has also recovered more than two tons of scrap wood. The wood is then chipped and used for animal bedding at a local chicken farm. Because Becker County owns its own demolition landfill, Jim has been able to work with facility personnel to designate spots to separate the lumber from other waste materials like concrete and shingles. By recovering these materials, Becker County estimates that it will cut landfill waste in half. The county also hopes to divert concrete to an asphalt company. The concrete would be crushed and reused as base material for new roads. Photo caption: Becker County reports that it will cut landfill waste in half by 2001 through materials exchange.