Is Dyed Recycled Hardwood Pallet Mulch Toxic?
Mulch purchasers should be aware that the potential for toxins in dyed recycled hardwood pallet mulch comes from chemical wood treatments, not ingredients in the dye. Does this Spark an idea?
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Sources
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A great deal of waste wood is generated from the use of wooden pallets for shipping. Broken, damaged or old pallets are ground into mulch to reduce waste and generate additional income.
Dyes
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Dyed recycled pallet mulch is available in many colors including red, brown, black, yellow, orange, blue and green. The dyes may stain clothes, skin and concrete, but are almost always safe for humans, animals and plants.
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Chemical Treatments
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Pallet wood ground up for mulch may be treated with Chrominated Copper Arsenic (CCA), which can leach into your garden and poison the soil. New wood for consumer use is no longer treated with CCA as of Jan. 1, 2004. Therefore, any safety concerns with dyed recycled wood mulches come from woods salvaged from industrial use or demolition sites and illegally integrated into mulches.
Industry Response
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The Mulch and Soil Council does not certify any mulches that contain CCA.
Alternatives
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Look for natural or dyed mulches that are made with virgin wood, other types of recycled wood (such as lumber scraps or Christmas trees) and non-wood materials and are certified by the Mulch and Soil Council.
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