How to dispose of pressure-treated lumber

After various projects, I have a bunch of semi-useless scraps of this stuff. The pamphlet I grabbed from the aisle where I bought the stuff says that I should just throw away the scraps along with my regular garbage. Is that right?

Seems a little weird to me, since we're basically requiring wood to be thrown into a landfill.


Is there a better option?

Happily, I don't have the means to dispose of it by burning, even if I'd wanted to. City ordinances forbid the use of burn-barrels, and I don't have a wood stove.

Isn't it less toxic now, though, than it was a few years back? I thought that they'd banned arsenic after 2003 or so, or did I hear incorrectly?

It's from Connecticut, but it should serve as a guideline for you!

http://www.ct.gov/Dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2714&Q=324870

The first priority in keeping treated wood out of the waste stream should be salvage and reuse. If such wood does not enter the waste stream, it will not be considered waste. Therefore, whenever possible, try to reuse treated wood that has been taken out of service, as long as it still meets the design requirements. If you must dispose treated wood, follow these recommendations:

State statute prohibits open burning of treated lumber. Typically, open burning of any kind can only occur at town transfer stations, by permit, involving only clean (untreated) wood and brush. Other limited open burning situations can occur at other sites, but only under a permit from local authorities, and typically only for clean wood and brush, not treated lumber.

Treated wood of all types can be most responsibly disposed of as follows: Homeowners engaged in small projects should take treated wood to their local landfill or transfer station and place it in the designated location (i.e., the non-clean wood pile). Contractors, utilities, and manufacturers should contract directly with a DEP permitted bulky waste landfill, or send it to an out-of state wood burner facility appropriately equipped and permitted to burn treated wood.

Sawdust, chips, and small wood scraps should never be composted. Treat these items as stated above.