why dont pellet manufactures have a reusable bag system

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

ad356

Member
Dec 25, 2009
156
north java, ny
so i buy 6-7 ton per winter. they are all bagged in plastic. plastic bags all get thrown out at the end of the day. what a waste with a so called enviromentally friendly heat. why not offer a system where you pay a deposit for bags on your first ton, which in extange you would get heavy duty reusable bags. they rest of the winter when you get your pellets you turn in your empty bags. the empty bags could then be set back to the pellet manufacturer where they could be refilled with pellets and resold. pellets could probably be sold at a discounted rate with a system like that. you pay for your bags once, the cost of pellet could be lower that way.

anyone ever wonder why they have not done this
 
Pellets are bagged on high speed bagging machines that use rolls of film that are cut and heat sealed after being filled... no practical way to reuse old bags... Why not find out why your local recycling center won't accept used bags for recycling? My local city recycling center requires clear bags but my pellets come in white bags... can't even use 'em for garbage!
 
yeah i guess i should have known they used something like that. my last job i worked in a pasta packaging dept, i was a filler operator. i ran rovema and illpak vertical filling machines,bagging frozen ravoli they probably use something similar but just allot bigger unit. so yeah i remember running similar equipment, of course i have been out of that job for 5 years now. i worked there 5 years and didnt make a penny over $11.50. after 4 years of being responsible for 3 vertical baggers, 3 automatic scales, and a slew of bag coders, and box coders; i told them to take their $11.50 and stick it where the sun dont shine. i now work in a raw milk receiving operation and make $18.50, that's right $7 per hour more, that's a huge jump. the only thing good to come out of my prevous job is that i can put that on my resume should the need ever arise, but i will never go back to that place. anyone working that kind of stressful, loud job being resonsible for food safety and all of that equipment is worth more then $11 per hour.
 
I wish my recycling center would take my trash in white bags... but I figure I have bigger things to worry about.
 
A couple of seasons ago we had a brand that was in reusable bags. Didn't fly so well. Not sure why, Could be the brand of fuel they used wasn't all that outstanding.
 
Last edited:
I've put a few bags in my recycle bin (we have waste management) and they have always taken it. However, WM also has single stream recycling where I put everything in one bin and they do the sorting. So not sure what happens at the sorting facility.
 
Somewhere in new england you can take delivery with a truck that blows pellets into a large hopper which lives at your house. These hoppers auger feed from the bottom to some boiler burner for continuous feed. I am not sure this would be cost effective or if storage like that is wise for a regular stove, but they are no bags n this process.
 
Have some pellets available in Half ton bags. Use the same bags for bulk seed.
 
Cleetussnow said:
Somewhere in new england you can take delivery with a truck that blows pellets into a large hopper which lives at your house. These hoppers auger feed from the bottom to some boiler burner for continuous feed. I am not sure this would be cost effective or if storage like that is wise for a regular stove, but they are no bags n this process.
Click to expand...

I looked into something like this for the convenience factor of not having to store pellets inside my basement. An outdoor silo next to my house would feed both stoves and would be out of sight due to the way my house is situated, but "Congress" refused funding for my idea. Maybe if "Congress" had to carry some bags she would change her mind, but that comes with other consequences.

They also make hanging indoor silos which look pretty cool for people who have the room.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dlehneman
Cleetussnow said:
Somewhere in new england you can take delivery with a truck that blows pellets into a large hopper which lives at your house. These hoppers auger feed from the bottom to some boiler burner for continuous feed. I am not sure this would be cost effective or if storage like that is wise for a regular stove, but they are no bags n this process.
Click to expand...

This is the Maine based company http://www.maineenergysystems.com/.
 
you can also get 1 ton bags. and they are quite inexpensive.
i believe with the right access, the bulk delivery trucks can fill those in place.
http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/1-ton-pellet-bags.html

iirc from when i was looking into it, some of the bulk delivery companies may even sell the bags as well.

our waste transfer station take all the old bags no problem. just have to bundle them.
 
The last thing I want to do is pay a deposit and have to haul 250 empty bags back for a refund...
I have a recycling bin this winter and will have to see what number the plastic on the bags are and see if they will take them. Otherwise in the trash they go.
 
john193 said:
I've put a few bags in my recycle bin (we have waste management) and they have always taken it. However, WM also has single stream recycling where I put everything in one bin and they do the sorting. So not sure what happens at the sorting facility.
Click to expand...

X2 - Put all my bags in the large recycle container.
 
I use some to carry my used/dirty uniforms to work
 
Maine Energy Systems actually has a few suppliers that deliver bulk pellets. I have seen some set ups that store bulk pellets and can dispense for pellet stoves but most auger feed to a boiler.

If and when torrified pellets hit the market, they will not need plastic bag since they will not absorb water. They also have a higher heating content so folks will need far fewer of them. I expect when they come out, they will be in kraft paper bags like Kingsford charcoal. Then again for shipping purposes plastic bags are a lot easier and more reliable.
 
just dumping torrified pellets in a wood pellet stove doesn't seem like it would work out well.

*not that that's what you are suggesting.
i have been and still am curious what it will take to burn torrified pellets in a home unit.

would they be too hot for the sensors in a regular wood pellet stove?
seems like the feed rates would need to be drastically different too.

i don't know this, but i wonder how abrasive they are and if they would wear out a stoves feed system.
time will tell, i suppose.
i'd love to be able to drive down the street to where they will be making these and pick up super pellet fuel.
i'm just not sure it wouldn't mean getting a whole new stove.
 
Last edited:
There were re-usable burlap bags for sale for a while last year but nobody liked them.
Maine Woods Pellet will take your old bags at the plant and compact them for recycling. Also delivers pellets with a pneumatic truck too.
 
IHATEPROPANE said:
The last thing I want to do is pay a deposit and have to haul 250 empty bags back for a refund...
I have a recycling bin this winter and will have to see what number the plastic on the bags are and see if they will take them. Otherwise in the trash they go.
Click to expand...
IIRC its #4.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Ranckie
Harmon Insert Not Burning Correctly
Replies
2
Views
555
The Pellet Mill - Pellet and Multifuel Stoves
Ranckie
Ranckie
Clarkbug
Reusable Pellet Bags?
Replies
4
Views
2K
The Green Room
Clarkbug
Clarkbug
HeatMinder
Optimal pellets: Why does it have to be difficult for places like Texas? (Dallas Fort Worth area)
Replies
1
Views
2K
2023-2024 Pellet FUEL reviews-opinions-questions
bogieb
bogieb
notch
2022-2023 Northeast, Vermont and Green Supreme
Replies
2
Views
4K
2023-2024 Pellet FUEL reviews-opinions-questions
lowb35
L
maraakate
Lancaster, PA TSC Badged Hardwood Pellets Review
Replies
0
Views
2K
2023-2024 Pellet FUEL reviews-opinions-questions
maraakate
maraakate
Top Bottom
Back