Extent of CCA-Treated Wood Used for Commercial Mulch

Progress to Date

Current Disposal Pathways

Co-mingledC&D Waste C&D

MRF

WoodWith CCA

UnlinedC&D Landfill

WoodCogeneration

Mulch

Recycled Wood Contains CCA

6% in 1996 (12 C&D facilities)

9 to 30% in 1999 (3 C&D facilities)

22% in 2001 (1 C&D facility)

CCA-Treated Wood Difficult to Sort Visually

Mulch: Major Market for Recycled Wood

Recycled Wood Mulch Is Typically Dyed

Uses of Recycled Wood Mulch

Uses of Recycled Mulch

Uses of Recycled Mulch

How to Recognize Recycled Wood Mulch

News Coverage Mini-study by news media

Many inquiries from concerned citizens

Some samples sent to the research team Some contained CCA and others did not

Leaching Characteristics of Mulch

Samples No. No. Exceeding GWCTL for As

No. Exceeding GWCTL for Cr

C&D Debris 20 18 5

Yard Waste 3 1 1

Colored Mulch

3 2 0

Vegetative Mulch

3 0 0

Objectives Quantify the extent to which mulch

in south Florida is contaminated with CCA

Determine the adequacy of visual methods in establishing whether or not a mulch sample contains CCA.

Methods Sample collection – Completed

~ 34 samples collected

22 mulches from retail establishments 5 from playgrounds 2 from schools 2 soil/wood blends 3 controls

Methods

Sample Preprocessing & Analysis

Sample

Unburned

Ashed

Visual InspectStainSPLP

ICP/AA Analysis“Fraction of CCA”

8 samples ashed to date

Timeline Complete sample collection by Nov’02

“ pre-processing by Jan’03

“ analysis by July’03

Technical Results Study will characterize mulch sold at

commercial establishments and mulch in use Leachability SPLP Fraction of CCA in mulch Visual Characteristics

Questions?

Recently Funded

Management and Disposal Options for CCA-Treated Wood Waste

Purpose Prioritize feasible management and

disposal options for CCA-treated wood

Co-MingledC&D Waste

Unlined C&D Landfill

C&DMRF

Recycled Wood with CCA

Mulch

WoodCogeneration

WTE Plant

Add’lSorting

Untreated Wood

CCATreated Wood

AirEmissionsAshDisposal

AirEmissions

AshDisposal

Re-use orRecycle

Volume Reduction-incineration

AirEmissions

AshDisposal

Recycling

Disposal in a Lined Landfill

Ultimate Disposal

Sort at Source

Methods Document current management scenarios

for CCA-treated wood in FL

Document current quality of FL water, air, and soil.

Describe existing disposal facilities.

Evaluate environmental impacts of current disposal pathways and alternative scenarios

Questions ?