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No—do not burn pressure-treated lumber. That means no backyard fire, fireplace, wood stove, or residential boiler. Burning can release toxic chemicals into smoke and concentrate preservative chemicals in the ash. Use a disposal route approved by your local waste authority instead.
Why pressure-treated wood should never be burned at home
Pressure-treated lumber is treated with preservatives to resist decay and pests. The chemicals vary by product; not every board has the same composition. Some older wood was treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which contains chromium, copper, and arsenic. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises against burning CCA or other preservative-treated wood in a residential setting because people may inhale toxic chemicals in smoke and ash. The USDA Forest Service also warns that burning treated wood or construction scraps in open fires can release toxic gases or concentrate preservative elements in ash.
The warning applies even if the wood is old, weathered, or left over from a construction project. Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy answers the question directly: do not burn pressure-treated lumber. Michigan EGLE’s open-burning guidance and the EPA’s CCA guidance both address the risk.
How to dispose of treated lumber instead
Small household quantities
For homeowner quantities of CCA-treated wood, EPA says ordinary municipal solid-waste collection is usually an option. That is not a guarantee that every hauler or landfill accepts it: state and local rules can differ. Before setting lumber out with the trash, contact your waste hauler or local solid-waste office and ask how treated wood should be prepared and collected.
#1 Best Overall
- EPA-registered, insecticidal exterior wood preservative prevents attacks from termites and other wood boring insects while protecting against rot and decay
- Transparent, natural green color
- Designed to protect exterior untreated or pressure-treated wood in below ground, ground contact, fresh water contact, or above ground installations
- Ideal for docks and piers, fence posts, landscape timbers, other exterior wood exposed to moisture, weather, or wood destroying insects
- Highly recommended for pressure treated wood end cut protection
Large, commercial, or project quantities
For larger loads or construction and demolition waste, ask the local solid-waste authority or facility what it accepts and where the material must go. EPA’s waste guidance discusses permitted facilities and notes that restrictions may apply to particular landfills or counties; do not assume a landfill or incinerator will accept treated lumber. EPA’s CCA-treated wood waste fact sheet provides additional context on facility-specific management.
Do not mulch or compost it
Do not chip pressure-treated lumber for garden mulch or add it to compost. EPA specifically says CCA-treated wood should not be reused as mulch. Treated wood belongs in a disposal route approved for your area, not in soil or a compost pile.
Rank #2
- Many Uses - This product is suitable for new home construction, renovation projects, and more and has been tested for many different jobs.
- High Quality Appearance - Every piece meets the stamped grading standards for strength and high quality appearance. They are also strong and durable.
- Versatile - Our Lumber can be primed and painted or sealed and stained. It has many uses and can do many jobs while having a high-quality appearance.
- Meets High Standards - Every stud meets the stamped grading standards for strength and highest quality in appearance. Framing studs are ideal for a wide range of uses from framing of houses to basic interior structural applications. Studs come in several widths for structural framing, structural walls, interior and protected exterior walls or can be used for a variety of craft and non-structural projects.
- Farm Plastic Supply - Farm Plastic Supply offers premium lumber products for all uses and jobs. Our lumber products are quality and are very durable. Our Lumber is very dependable and has been a favorite among many of our customers.
If you need to cut treated lumber
Cutting can create sawdust, so take precautions to limit exposure. EPA recommends goggles and a dust mask when sawing CCA-treated wood, followed by washing your hands. North Carolina DHHS advises cutting outdoors when practical, using a drop cloth to catch sawdust, wearing eye and dust protection and gloves, and cleaning up scraps and dust. These steps address cutting dust; they do not make burning the wood safe.
- Work outdoors when practical and avoid spreading dust into living areas.
- Collect sawdust and scraps rather than leaving them on the ground.
- Wear eye protection and a dust mask, and wash your hands after handling the wood.
If treated wood has already burned
Keep away from smoke and ash, and do not spread or reuse the ash. Because the preservative and amount of wood can vary, there is no single cleanup instruction that fits every incident. Contact local public-health or waste officials for advice about ash disposal; seek appropriate medical advice if someone may have been exposed or feels unwell. Wisconsin DHS also warns that treated-wood smoke and fumes can be hazardous: Wisconsin DHS guidance on treated wood.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- Ready-to-Use Copper Naphthenate 17% (contains 2% copper as metal), meets the AWPA M4 Standard
- Required by building codes (IBC 2303.1.9 & IRC R317.1.1) on end-cuts of all pressure treated lumber
- Low VOC (<350g/L) and 100% domestically sourced from recycled copper and reclaimed by-products.
- Labeled for General Use, and wood treated with Tenino maybe discarded in local landfill
- Water repellant and both toxic and repellant to termites and other wood destroying insect
Rank #4
- Beautiful Grain
- Perfectly Kiln Dried
- Two sides sanded to 3/4" thickness
Rank #3
- By Crafters, For Crafters: Crafting and building with wood is our number one priority. Bringing you more of the wood craft supplies you love is our job. Please dont hesitate to get in touch
- Versatile Wooden Sticks and Lumber: These wooden pieces take paint, stain, and other embellishments well. Short lengths are suitable for many projects - from DIY decks to framing
- Pre-Cut and Pre-Sanded: Tired of cutting sanding and measuring your lumber? We've done it for you with less then a 1/64 inch tolerance. The lumber we produce comes pre-sanded and pre-cut to 12 inch sizes - craft ready. For Smaller than 12" pieces, you can easily cut them
- Quality Construction Material: Our wood and lumber are made from beautiful, quality wood - only the best for our woodworkers and DIYers! These are cut and prepared in the usa
- Sustainably Sourced Wood: All of our wood comes from sustainable forests. This insures that every tree is replaced and regrown for future generations
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