What to do with "spoiled" water-soaked wood pellets?

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doorknob

New Member
Nov 15, 2010
5
NH
I have five or six bags of hardwood pellets that had been ripped open (probably by inquisitive raccoons), leading to rain water getting in and turning the pellets into sawdust.

I could certainly take them to the dump, or haul them into the woods behind my house and either dump them into a pile or spread them around on the ground, but I was wondering whether they would make OK fill. There is a depression in my yard where an old oil tank was removed and the contractor did not backfill with a sufficient volume of soil. Is there any downside to be aware of in using the pellet sawdust to fill in that hole?
 
doorknob said:
I have five or six bags of hardwood pellets that had been ripped open (probably by inquisitive raccoons), leading to rain water getting in and turning the pellets into sawdust.

I could certainly take them to the dump, or haul them into the woods behind my house and either dump them into a pile or spread them around on the ground, but I was wondering whether they would make OK fill. There is a depression in my yard where an old oil tank was removed and the contractor did not backfill with a sufficient volume of soil. Is there any downside to be aware of in using the pellet sawdust to fill in that hole?
Click to expand...

be wary of dumping them near the house.....can attract termites if mixed into the dirt
 
how about in the garden???
 
I did consider the possibility of termites or other critters close to the house. The depression is about 4 feet away from the concrete foundation of the garage, and 8 or 10 feet away from the foundation of the rest of the house, but I'm not sure whether that is far enough away or not.

I think that some people use sawdust for mulch, but probably not close to a foundation.
 
Sawdust can enrich the soil in a garden but it takes nitrogen from the soil as it decays. Might need to add some fertilizer.
 
Dump them in the forest behind your house .I think I would spread them around though .
 
Retired Guy said:
Sawdust can enrich the soil in a garden but it takes nitrogen from the soil as it decays. Might need to add some fertilizer.
Click to expand...

Not the sawdust I use, it is created for me by my chickens. Add some lawn clippings that'll balance out any lack of nitrogen problems or use it in your chicken coop or run.
 
Damn that Castine is sweet looking. That's my dream stove! I have to get my pellet stove installed and running to get my mind off it.
 
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