Guide for Reuse, Repair, Recycling, and Safe Disposal
for Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and the City of Palo Alto
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Wood - Treated

Treated wood is wood treated with a chemical for the purpose of resisting decay. Examples include pressure-treated dimensional lumber, creosote-treated railroad ties, and telephone poles.

Household Hazardous Waste

This item should never be put in a curbside bin. For more information visit our household hazardous waste page.

Pressure treated, preserved wood, or treated wood waste (including the sawdust), referred to as TWW, has preserving chemicals like arsenic, creosote, and copper. When outdoor structures built with preservative treated wood – such as decks, gazebos, fences and retaining walls – are demolished and discarded, the wood is considered TWW.

DTSC lists the current Transfer Facilities that accept TWW across the state. The CA Water Board lists Landfills that accept TWW.

TWWDisposal.org has fact sheets and outreach materials on the appropriate handing, disposal (landfills that accept TWW), and other management of treated wood waste for residents and for facilities that may receive or handle treated wood waste. Spanish translation is enabled on their website.

Painted, engineered, stained, lacquered, plywood/composite, and wood painted with "copper green" may go in the garbage.

Vendors

Vendor Address City Destination Disposal Method Notes
Zanker Road Landfill 705 Los Esteros Road
(north of Zanker Road, one mile north of Zanker and Highway 237)
San Jose Safe Disposal Drop-off for a Fee DTSC variance received 3/11/21. Call first for terms and conditions.

Curbside Service

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