The oil retained in palm press fibre makes it a good combustible material and its predominant use is as biomass fuel for oil mill plants, where it is burned to produce steam for generating electricity. This saves large amounts of diesel fuel and is a convenient method of disposal (Thambirajaha et al., 1989). However, some factories can only use about 30% of the available palm press fibre and the rest is considered as waste (Prasertsan et al., 1996). The ash from the burning of palm press fibre does not contain sufficient nutrients to be used as a fertilizer, and dumping creates an airborne hazard and pollutant. It has been incorporated in concrete as a replacement for cement (Pickard, 2005). Composting palm press fibre with poultry litter and urea has been successfully tested and studies indicate that this compost mixed in sand and loam may enhance crop production (Thambirajaha et al., 1989). Increasing the consumption of palm press fibre by livestock, if possible near the production site to avoid wastage, palatability issue and transportation, has been proposed as a means to minimize pollution (Devendra, 1985).
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