What’s Dunnage?

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Dunnage is a term used in construction and freight transport to refer to scraps that have a secondary use. In construction, it refers to scrap wood, while in transport, it refers to packaging that protects cargo. Dunnage can be recycled or reused.

Dunnage is a term commonly used to refer to scraps that provide some type of secondary use or purpose. The term is used in several fields, including construction and freight transport. Dunnage is a common designation used in many parts of the world, including the UK, North and South America, and Australia.

In construction terms, dunnage refers to the pieces of scrap wood that are left behind after the completion of a building or other woodworking project. This can include short sections that have been cut as part of the modification to longer pieces that have been inserted into the build. Scrap wood or floorboards are often recycled for use in pressure board or even as fodder for creating sawdust which can be used in some mulch compounds.

When it comes to transporting cargo, dunnage refers to the packaging that helps encapsulate the cargo and prevent damage during the process of transporting cargo. Once upon a time, odd-numbered pieces of wood were often used to create packaging to protect goods in transit. Today, the inflatable bags and packaging used in shipping are still often referred to as dunnage, even though wood is not usually a component of the bags.

In the past, the dunnage was often simply discarded once the goods reached their destination. However, nowadays it is more common for dunnage to be reused by the recipient of the goods or delivered to a recycling centre, where the materials can be converted into other useful products.

Many municipalities around the world sponsor recycling programs that accept scrap pieces of wood and plastic, making it relatively easy for people to turn into dunnage for these purposes. However, in the event that no such municipal program exists, there are often independent recycling services willing to accept dunnage even in small batches.




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