Prairie Creek Energy Services in Spruce Grove, Alberta, is helping land managers and contractors improve soil health by turning wood waste into a resource called biochar. This ongoing effort focuses on using a mobile system to convert organic waste into a product that can be used for sustainable land management.
The company uses a machine called an Air Curtain Carbonizer to process the waste. According to Prairie Creek Energy Services, this system can produce between 400 and 500 pounds of biochar every hour. The process turns about three to five per cent of the total weight of the wood into this carbon-rich material.
Biochar offers several benefits for the community, including better moisture retention in soil and improved growth for crops and pastures. The company notes that this method also helps the environment by storing carbon in the ground and reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional burning.
By providing a mobile disposal service, the business helps local industries manage wood waste in a way that meets environmental goals. This approach supports a local economy where waste is recycled back into the land to help plants grow better.
