In the bustling city of Melbourne and across the state of Victoria, construction and home renovation are as common as the trams trundling Swanston Street. Building projects bring the inevitable aftermath of material waste, notably treated timber. While it’s easy to overlook the significance of treated timber disposal, its impact on our environment and community health is too significant to ignore.
Treated Timber: A Mixed Blessing
Treated timber has been a boon in the construction industry, providing enhanced durability and protection against pests and decay. Its wide-ranging applications include fencing, decking,
building construction, furniture, and marine structures. However, what makes treated wood robust – the chemical preservatives like copper chrome arsenate (CCA) and light organic solvent preservatives (LOSP) – also pose a significant environmental challenge upon disposal.
Priority Waste Requires Priority Attention
Under the
Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Environment Protection Regulations 2021, treated timber containing hazardous substances is classified as Priority Waste. This designation is crucial because it guides how the timber can be legally and safely disposed of.
Responsible treated timber waste disposal is not just good practice – it’s the law. Timber treated with hazardous chemicals, including sawdust from such wood, demands careful handling due to its potential to harm human health or the environment should those chemicals leach into the soil or groundwater.
Risks of Improper Disposal
Disposing of treated pine and other treated timbers improperly could lead to the contamination of our land and waterways, resulting in a detrimental chain reaction on ecosystems and biodiversity. There’s the risk of chemical substances finding their way into our water supply, which is a major concern for community health and the preservation of local flora and fauna.
How to Dispose of Treated Timber
The question of how to dispose of treated timber is one that many contractors, construction businesses, and homeowners must address. Fortunately, despite the potential complexities involved in the disposal process, clear guidelines have been set forth to facilitate proper management.
Treated timbers, except those treated with oil-borne preservatives such as creosote, can be disposed of at putrescible (decomposition by bacteria) municipal waste landfills under the disposal category of industrial waste. It’s imperative, however, to distinguish treated from untreated timber to prevent contamination of resources recovered from non-priority waste, such as mulch intended for landscaping.
Navigating Waste Classification and Disposal
Navigating the classification criteria and finding the right disposal facilities can be challenging, but understanding your duty to dispose of priority waste responsibly is worth the effort. Treated timber must break away from the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality that often accompanies waste disposal. It requires specific handling to ensure that the environment is not compromised in the process.
Construction and
demolition waste facilities, municipal landfills that are licensed to accept such waste, and specialised recycling centres all play a role in the ecosystem of treated timber disposal. When in doubt, the
Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) offers guidance on the proper categorisation and disposal paths for different types of treated timber.
Responsible Disposal with Easy Rubbish Removal
We all share the responsibility of maintaining the health of our environment. By adhering to the appropriate disposal methods for treated timber, we contribute to the safeguarding of our ecosystem and take part in ongoing environmental stewardship that benefits current and future generations alike.
While the process of properly disposing of treated pine and other treated wood products may demand extra steps, the collective impact of doing so responsibly cannot be overstated. If you have treated timber disposal requirements, Easy Rubbish Removal is the service that cultivates a cleaner, greener Victoria.
