The method of wood waste utilization by pressing it into fuel briquettes is considered. It is proposed to use sulfate soap, a multi-tonnage waste of the pulp and paper industry, as an astringent. It is proven that as a result of adding a binder to the raw material, it is possible to carry out the process of forming briquettes with lower pressures, while ensuring the necessary statistical strength of the briquette. An appropriate method of supplying the binder is its preliminary mixing with wood waste. The most suitable concentration of the binder for fuel briquettes amounts to 6%. The use of a binder made it possible to reduce engine power by 40%, as well as increase the density of the obtained fuel briquettes by 10%.