How to spot treated wood

Examples of treated wood waste include

• Fence posts

• Sill plates

• Landscape timbers

• Pilings

• Guardrails

• Decking

Recycled wood waste is often used to produce wood chips that are marketed to fully permitted biomass facilities where they are used to produce renewable energy. Treated wood is wood that has been treated with chemicals to protect and preserve the wood from insect attacks and fungal decay, but which cannot be accepted by biomass facilities.

“Due to new regulations, as of January 1st, 2021, imposed by the Department of Toxic Substances Control, all treated wood waste is now considered as Hazardous Waste”

Due to new regulations, as of January 1st, 2021, imposed by the Department of Toxic Substances Control, all treated wood waste is now considered as Hazardous Waste and must be recycled at special recycling facilities. If the recycling facilities we use find treated wood waste, there will be an extra $100 surcharge due to the extra work in sorting it and dispose of it in a safe manner.

The easiest way to spot treated wood is to look for incision marks in the lumber that will indicate it has been treated, as shown in the picture on top. The wood is often identified by green or dark brown coloring and staple marks.