The U.S. forestry industry, in the process of harvesting and converting wood into consumer products, generates a number of residue and waste materials that could be used for bioenergy and bioproducts including in-forest resources (logging residues, other removals, fuelwood, and fuel treatment wood), as well as materials generated in the conversion of wood into intermediate and final products such a lumber, paper, and furniture (i.e., mill residues).
In 2007, an estimated 63 million dry tons of logging residues and 24.7 million dry tons of other removals were generated and an estimated 35.4 million dry tons of fuelwood was used for residential and commercial purposes. An estimated 86.7 million dry tons of primary mill residues were generated, with about 98% currently used to produce bioenergy, fiber, or other products. An estimated 52 million dry tons of black liquor (a by-product of the kraft pulping process) was used by paper and pulp mills to produce heat, steam, and electricity and is the single largest source of bioenergy produced today.