Visit a Recycling Center to Obtain Firewood
Heating costs are soaring across the country. Rates for electricity are higher than ever, and other heat sources such as natural gas and oil are also expensive. Sadly, many people sacrifice staying comfortably warm in their own homes simply because they cannot afford the absurdly high electricity and fuel bills. If you're one of those people, you no longer have to be chilly and uncomfortable in your own home. As long as you're willing to take a short drive to your nearest recycling center and put in a little work, you can get great firewood at no cost to you. Below, you'll find tips on how to utilize this valuable resource.
Call Before You Leave
Logs and firewood are available in most recycling centers on a first-come, first-serve basis. In order to save both fuel and time, call ahead to find out if firewood is available on the day you plan to visit the center. Verify that the wood is free to local residents. Find out how much they have and if there's a limit to the amount of firewood you can take. If there's enough to make it worthwhile, load your tools into your car and head to the recycling center.
Useful Tools
Most firewood available at recycling centers will be in the form of logs. With a truck, you can easily fit large logs in the bed to take them home and split them. However, if you have a car, you'll need to have your tools ready to break down the wood into manageable pieces. Bring along a chainsaw and an axe if you're driving a car. Those who have trucks may be able to tow or haul a wood splitter to make the process that much easier.
Identification and Waivers
Upon your arrival to the recycling center, you may need to show a driver's license or other form of photo identification to prove that you are a resident of the area. Ask to speak to the supervisor about getting firewood. Some recycling centers have login sheets and waiver forms that must be signed if you plan to take materials off the premises. Once you've completed the required paperwork, you'll be shown to the area designated for wood recycling materials. These are kept separately from other recyclables, so you don't have to dig through other people's trash to find good, quality firewood.
Getting the Firewood
Take only as much as you need, and try to get in and out quickly. Whether you take logs home to split or do the work while at the center, you'll have to load the materials yourself. Bring along a friend if you anticipate the logs or wood will be too heavy for you to lift alone.
The free firewood gathered from your local recycling center can help you save considerable money on heating costs, especially if you use wood as your primary heat source. Even if you use wood as a secondary or backup heat source, it's important to save money where you can. In extremely cold temperatures when a heat pump has difficulty keeping up with heating demands, you'll be grateful for the extra warmth of a crackling fire.
