How to Dispose of Old Treated Wood

Pressure-treated wood is lumber that has been impregnated with a combination of chemicals to resist rotting, insects and fungus. Until recently, most pressure-treated lumber contained chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which could release arsenic into the surrounding environment. More recent treatment methods do not contain arsenic, but old wood requiring disposal from dismantled decks, playgrounds and other structures may well be CCA-treated. Use handling cautions and dispose of old treated wood.

Things You’ll Need

•     Gloves
•     Eye protection
•     Mask
•     Heavy-duty lawn and leaf bags
•     Electric saw
•     Hammer
•     Crowbar
•     Drill with screwdriver bits
•     Duct tape
•     Permanent marker
•     Dustpan and brush or broom
•     Leaf rake
•     Old sheet or plastic tarp

Instructions

1. Put on gloves, dust mask and eye protection. 
2. Dismantle the old treated wood structure using a crowbar, hammer and electric drill with screwdriver bits, if the structure was constructed with screws. Neatly stack the lumber and remove all hardware from it.
3. Place an old sheet or plastic tarp under your cutting area. Cut lumber into 3-foot lengths using an electric saw.
4. Bundle several 3-foot lengths of lumber together and wrap them with lengths of duct tape. Use permanent marker to write “CCA-TREATED WOOD” on the duct tape. Pile these bundles of lumber curbside with your trash, or take them to your local transfer station or dump for disposal.
5. Use leaf rake, broom or brush, and dustpan to sweep up any sawdust and remaining wood residue from the surrounding area, and deposit it on the old sheet or tarp. Carefully roll the old sheet or tarp into a bundle containing the sawdust and wood residue. If you are wearing disposable gloves, add them to the bundle along with your dust mask. Wrap the bundle with duct tape, and again mark it with a permanent marker. Set this bundle out with your trash or take it to the local transfer station or dump.

Tips & Warnings

1. Do not burn or bury CCA-treated wood, and do not use CCA-treated wood sawdust or shavings as compost or mulch.
2. Launder the work clothes you were wearing while cleaning up and disposing of old treated wood separately, and run them through an extra rinse cycle in the washing machine.
3. Wear gloves, a dust mask and eye protection when handling CCA-treated wood.