What to do with Ruined pellets?

[smirnov3]

This past year, out of the 5 tons of pellets that I ordered, I got a bag that was 100% ruined (moisture had gotten into it)

so I was wondering what to do with the sawdust that resulted.

I don't like throwing stuff away, espescially if I paid money for it

Yesterday it dawned on me: Mushrooms!

There are companies out there that sell mushroom spawn, and some types eat sawdust

So here's my plan: next april, when it warms up, I will order a Oytser mushroom kit from Fungi Perfeti, plunk it down in a bucket of sawdust out in the garage & harvest the results

Oyster mushroom fungus is very aggresive and is willing to eat low quality feedstock like sawdust (and old phone books, newspapers, anything that is wet. which is why I am doing this out in my detached garage)

and as long as you give the mushrooms clean feedstock (ie no ink) the mushrooms are eadible & tasty

anybody have any better ideas?

 

[MCPO]

Use them for compost, around shrubs, or as a oil , paint, etc. absorbing media for spills on the garage floor.

 

[crausch]

Use them for oil spills in your garage or for traction in the snow when your having trouble getting up a hill. Keeping them in the trunk of a car can help get you out if you get stuck. The extra weight in the trunk helps add to traction too.

 

[tinkabranc]

I would use em for mulch

 

[Xena]

Do my own work on the jeep and bike
so they come in handy for absorbing oil, gas,
and other fluids in the garage and driveway.

Best way I've found is, if they aren't entirely
wet, I put the bag outside in a container and let
them get soaked. Then let them dry and you
have a pile of sawdust which absorbs stuff quicker
than whole pellets.

 

[bungalobob]

Googled-'sawdust use' this is interesting. Not recommended though.
(broken link removed)

 

[oil-schmoil]

I gotta try that one!

 

[imacman]

Mulch or oil absorber

 

[Souzafone]

Sell on fleabay for $10/bag, use money for beer---repeat as necessary.

 

[Panhandler]

Googled-'sawdust use' this is interesting. Not recommended though.
(broken link removed)

Reminds of the Mythbusters show where they stuck a hose feeding methane into a bucket of soapy water. The bubble "stack" got about 15 feet high and then they lit it. Cool.

 

[kdp7462]

Has anyone used the semi ruined ones(not full on sawdust) for absorbant use with Kitty Litter? My parents mentioned it, but I was unsure of the effect on the cats. I would assume it would soak up a lot of it and keep the smell down, which would be nice.

 

[pelletizer]

Most places will refund $$$$ for damaged bags of pellets,
As far as cat litter ya you can use it,
Feline pine brand cat litter is actually wood pellets (they burn hot too)

 

[rowerwet]

the burn pot on my maxim is so big I just throw them in on top of the pellets in the pot, (not gonna waste those suckers if I can help it)

 

[toastyinri]

Has anyone used the semi ruined ones(not full on sawdust) for absorbant use with Kitty Litter? My parents mentioned it, but I was unsure of the effect on the cats. I would assume it would soak up a lot of it and keep the smell down, which would be nice.

They are excellent for kitty litter either ruined or not. My pets readily accepted them as their litter and like to "dig a little deeper" to deposit their "gifts".
avg. 5.00 per 40lb bag vs. 7-12.00 for clumping litter...need I say more.

 

[Wet1]

Has anyone used the semi ruined ones(not full on sawdust) for absorbant use with Kitty Litter? My parents mentioned it, but I was unsure of the effect on the cats. I would assume it would soak up a lot of it and keep the smell down, which would be nice.

They are excellent for kitty litter either ruined or not. My pets readily accepted them as their litter and like to "dig a little deeper" to deposit their "gifts".
avg. 5.00 per 40lb bag vs. 7-12.00 for clumping litter...need I say more.

We've been doing this for about 8 years now... works great.

 

[Skunk]

The mushrooms idea sounds the best!

 

[Scoop]

I can burn this in my stove, just mix it in with regular pellets or corn. Have done it many times when the bottombag in my garage stash gets wet .

 

[ORiley]

I had three bags of oatmeal in my last ton. I just dumped it in the hopper. The resulting burn was a lot like the July sky around here - flash-boom!

 

[Scoop]

I agree, sort of like a miniature fourth of july right in your house.

 

[sydney1963]

I would just make sure they aren't wet or damp.

 

[swalz]

Just had a bag a week ago that was half saw dust from water damage, dumped them in and it burned with the pellets. I did notice a lot of sparks. :coolsmile:

 

[pelletizer]

cat litter, meow,

 

[coffeedogz3]

Use them for oil spills in your garage or for traction in the snow when your having trouble getting up a hill. Keeping them in the trunk of a car can help get you out if you get stuck. The extra weight in the trunk helps add to traction too.

TRACTION!! Oh I can recommend that! As I was "trying" to leave for work this morning, my car was stuck in a deep ice rut that's been left from the storm and now packed down from parking on it. The kind neighbor & I tried & tried to rock it back & forth - nope - no go. Since my hubby was at work, he couldn't help. I remembered we had a bag of pellets that had gotten a bit wet, so I went to get them. Of the 40# I used almost all of them on the front wheels - those buggers were going to do it or else! Cat litter is $14 vs. bag of pellets for $5 (duhh). It took me almost an hour of rocking to get the momentum, but the PELLETS SAVED THE DAY. Then it was the Megadeath cd on the ride to work!

 

[KPWright]

kitty litter sounds good, composting sounds doable, oil spill sounds pretty good, traction on ice sounds like I'd rather just stay home and drink whisky, mulch sounds like possible termite bait, but I don't think I'd start growing fungus in the garage just to reclaim a $5 bag of pellets! :cheese:

 

[pelletizer]

If they are penningtons take em to Walmart and get a store credit,