How to Clean Up Ashes From Treated Wood

CCA treated wood is a common product used to build decks, patios and small outbuildings. The mixture of copper, chromium and arsenic that is injected into the wood makes it resistant to rot, mold, mildew and insect infestation. Problems can occur when demolition and rebuilding of these structures happen. The federal government bans the burning of treated wood in open fires. (See reference 1) Burning the treated wood releases arsenic into the atmosphere and leaves ash behind that has a very high concentration of this toxic substance. If you have inadvertently burnt treated wood, you can clean up the ash and soil if you carefully follow all safety precautions.

Things You'll Need

• Work gloves
• Long sleeve shirt and long pants
• Respirator mask
• Shovel
• Rake
• Large reinforced plastic yard bags
• Plastic drop cloth
• Duct tape
• Fill dirt
• Grass seed
• Small trailer or pickup

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Instructions

Safe Handling of Contaminated Ash Materials

• 1

  Dress in older clothing that will completely cover your arms and legs before attempting ash removal from burnt treated wood. Use a quality respirator mask and gloves to avoid arsenic contact with the hands and lungs. Buy them at any home improvement center. Line a pickup bed or small trailer with a plastic drop cloth to avoid contamination. Duct tape the plastic to the corners to hold it in place

• 2

  Shovel the ashes into large plastic bags. Remove up to 2 inches of the soil that the ashes had been sitting on. Increase the depth to 3 or 4 inches if it has rained since burning the treated wood. Load the bags into the back of the pickup or small trailer.

• 3

  Remove the mask, gloves and clothing and bag them up to clean separate from other household items. Shower thoroughly to remove any arsenic that may have transferred to the skin and hair.

• 4

  Take the plastic bags of ash and soil to the nearest dump site that accepts industrial solid waste materials. Not every waste disposal facility will handle this type of waste. Use a fresh mask and gloves to remove the bags from the trailer or pickup bed. Remove and discard the plastic drop cloth.

• 5

  Use fill dirt to cover the area that contained the ashes. Spread evenly using a shovel and rake. Limit soil erosion by planting quick-growing grass seed.