How do you dispose of old railroad ties?

1. Decide what to do with the railroad ties after you remove them.
2. Dig out the dirt around the railroad tie.
3. Pry the edge of the railroad tie up with a heavy duty crow bar.
4. Attach a chain to the railroad tie and pull it free with a truck or a tractor.
5. Place an ad in the local newspaper or online.

Can you burn railroad ties outside?

If you have old railroad ties on your property that you want to get rid of, you should never burn them. Burning can release toxins in the air, which can be dangerous to respiratory health. You should also avoid inhaling sawdust from creosote treated wood. Railroad ties should never be burned in fireplaces or outdoors.

What can replace old railroad ties?

Paving stones can be a better option than old railroad ties to create walkways in your garden. They can often be placed over turf or gravel, making them fairly easy to install. You can also create walkways using pebbles and adhesive.

Do railroad ties burn easily?

The high heat and the extreme temperatures burn off the hazardous material contained in the railroad ties, such as creosote. Make sure you remove all nails, screws, metal pieces, and other non-wood elements from the railroad ties before burning them, whether they are treated or untreated.

Are new railroad ties toxic?

However, because creosote is toxic, new ties can cause growth problems for plants that are sensitive to it. If the wood is oozing black creosote or has an odor, it shouldn’t be used. Gases released from creosote are also harmful in a closed space, so railroad ties should not be used in a greenhouse or indoors.

What’s the best way to remove a railroad tie?

Cut through the top railroad tie along the lines on each side of the rebar holes. Use a reciprocating saw that allows you to change the blade position to efficiently cut through the large square wood.

What to do with old half rotten railroad ties?

Take the boxes home and set in the back of your pickup truck. Cut the railway ties into pieces that fit inside the new cardboard box. Tape the top of the cardboard box of railway ties shut. Drive to home depot and park off to the side with your tailgate down and the box sitting at the tailgate.

What to do with sawdust from railroad ties?

Wear protective eyewear, hearing protection, coveralls, a respirator and work boots when cutting into the ties with a chainsaw, and always dispose of any sawdust created. Additionally, you’ll need to consider how work-intensive it will be to move these 8 1/2-foot-long timbers that weigh, typically, around 200 pounds.

What to do with railroad ties on retaining wall?

Sometimes a single course of railroad ties is used as an easy border for flower beds. Locate the entry holes for the steel rebar that holds railroad ties together in a retaining wall.

How do you dispose of old railroad ties?

The safest way to get rid of any leftover railroad ties is to dispose of them in a landfill. Most states in the U.S. have certain regulated landfills that accept railroad ties. As your first step, you must get in touch with your area’s local landfill.

Is burning railroad ties bad?

Creosote-Treated Wood Disposal First and foremost, the EPA notes that creosote-treated wood – or wood treated with any kind of chemical preservative – should not be burned, so do not put it in your bonfire pile. Visit EPA.gov to look up hazardous waste programs in your area and to ask about railroad tie disposal.

Is it illegal to have railroad ties?

Every EPA site said the same thing about the main preservative in old railroad ties: “Creosote is a possible human carcinogen and has no registered residential use.” So it’s actually illegal to use old railroad ties in a home landscape. Such uses in residential settings are not intended uses of creosote.

How long do used railroad ties last?

Average life of hardwood ties is 20 to 25 years.” Kevin Haugh, president of CXT Inc., provides somewhat shorter estimates of tie service life: about 40 years for concrete versus a range for wood tie life of from 8-10 years up to 15-25 years dependent on the climate and wood type.

Why you shouldn’t burn railroad ties?

If you have old railroad ties on your property that you want to get rid of, you should never burn them. Burning can release toxins in the air, which can be dangerous to respiratory health. You should also avoid inhaling sawdust from creosote treated wood. The vapors of creosote tars can build up, as in chimneys.

How much does a 8 foot railroad tie weigh?

They range from 100 to 300 pounds. Railroad ties can weigh as much as 200 pounds.

What are the dangers of burning railroad ties?

PAHs are the same carcinogens contained in cigarette smoke, a known carcinogen. You should avoid inhaling creosote vapors, which can be released by heat. The vapors of creosote tars can build up, as in chimneys. Railroad ties should never be burned in fireplaces or outdoors.

Can you use untreated railroad ties in a garden?

It’s best to use untreated wood in your garden beds. It’s common to see old railroad ties used in landscaping as retaining walls, landscape edging or raised planter beds, but are there dangers of treated railroad ties you should consider? Railroad ties are treated with chemical preservatives, such as creosote and chromated copper arsenate.

How long does railroad tie contamination remain a risk in?

So, then the question becomes: How long does creosote remain a risk in the soil? Although several writers indicate that plant roots do not absorb creosote, the EPA says: “If the soil in your yard was contaminated by creosote in the past, you should probably not grow food in it.

What’s the proper way to dispose of railroad ties?

The newer the wood, the more chemicals are still present. Today, ties are being made from plastics as well. Disposing of used wooden railroad ties properly is important to the ecology. For people removing the railroad ties from landscaping, disposal is equally as important. In Missouri, railroad ties are a “regulated solid waste.”.