Trees are one of our most valued natural resources. Yet when they are in the way of progress, the old clich/ “take no prisoners” applies. When clearing land for site development, this means removing whole trees and disposing of them. It is not unusual for that debris to be placed in a C & D landfill. Since land for landfills is a finite commodity, it is not prudent to remove tons of trees from one site then dump them in another site. This presents a stewardship opportunity that Mr. Carl Kaiser recognized.

In his previous life as a long distance truck driver, Mr. Carl Kaiser saw what other states were doing with this valuable commodity, recycling. Since Carl was looking to work closer to home, he brought this idea back to Simpson, S.C. and started Kaiser Enterprises. Quickly, Carl found that trees delivered for grinding had a catch to them. Soil was caught up in the roots. Consequently, Carl realized that the soil plus some wood could be ground together to make an organically enhanced topsoil, O.E.T. that could be of value in addition to the mulch.

Here is how the process works. The bigger cleaner wood is ground for mulch and fuel wood. The fuel wood can be sold fresh, immediately after grinding. The mulch will be naturally cooked in a big pile for at least 90 days, then ground again and sold wholesale.

The dirty wood is ground, cooked for six months, ground again, screened and sold as O.E.T.

Carl is loading a dump truck with organically enhanced topsoil while Jerry is separating wood in the background. (See photo)

While the operation is relatively young, in the last year 8,540 tons of O.E.T. and 3,200 tons of mulch and fuel wood passed through this recycling yard. This enterprise is invaluable to the contractors in the expanding Columbia area. It also provides a high quality source of mulch and top soil to wholesale landscape suppliers. The business is strictly wholesale. Carl admits that some days they have twenty trucks deliver raw material yet some days they receive no trees.

This father and son team is the backbone of the business. Jerry runs the equipment most of the time and Carl handles business arrangements and runs some equipment and they both maintain the equipment.

Inclement weather, unknown raw material delivery and equipment break downs are the “bumps in the road” but producing a quality recycled product and good customer service makes it worth while. Their motto is “Grinding Today For A Better Future.”