| GRN Recycle Talk FAQ Answer |
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 97 11:57 WET DST From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman) Subject: Re: Preservative treated wood painted wood (Benoit Proulx)
August 5, 1997
Dear Benoit Proulx,
According to Forest Products Journal, July/.August, 1996, preservative-treated wood is available for recycling as into construction products such as dimension lumber used for decking and housing. The main requirement regulatorilly is that the material must pass the EPA's TCLP test for hazardous conditions. There will also be state regulations in force for it. Some of the preservative-treated wood could be used in woo-based composites manufacture, and some in cement composites. There are also means of extracting the preservatives. US Patent # 6262004 is an example of one such technology.
I do not believe, however, that you can compost the preservative treated wood.
As I understand it, the regulatory requirements for any wood are that Heavy metals must be screened for. Cd can't exceed 3 parts per million; lead can't exceed 150 ppm; pesticide residue can exceed .3 ppm; Cu can't exceed 750 ppm, etc.
My understanding is that painted wood can't be composted unless the paint is removed.
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