As you’re probably aware, it’s not easy disposing of wood with nails or old deck boards. If you’re just throwing it out, the nails can damage your garbage disposal or shredder. And if you’re trying to recycle it, the nails make it difficult to do so. So what’s the best way to dispose of wood with nails?

There are a few things to remember before you throw your wood with nails in your regular garbage.

Only small wood parts that are less than half an inch in diameter will be collected by the Waste Disposal Department.

Domestic and Commercial Waste

Before you do anything, you need establish what type of waste you have. If it’s commercial waste, then you need to follow the guidelines set out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

These are different from domestic waste disposal, so make sure you know which one you have.

If it’s domestic waste, then you can either take it to your local landfill or recycling center. If you have a lot of wood, it might be best to take it to the landfill so that it doesn’t overload your recycling center.

You can also check with your municipality to see if they have any special regulations for disposing of wood with nails.

The Best Way to Dispose of your Wood With Nails

Step 1 – Sort through the pieces of wood

There will likely be wood that has nails and would that doesn’t. You want to set the pieces with nails aside in a designated spot.

Related: How Does Pressure-Treated Wood And Lumber Work?

Step 2 – Remove the nails first

Now, you knew this one was coming but you want to start prying the nails out of the wood. You can use a hammer and a nail puller or you can try to do it by hand. It’s going to be up to you how you want to proceed with this.

If you’re removing them by hand, put on a pair of gloves so that you don’t accidentally hurt yourself. You also want to make sure that you have a waste bin nearby to place the nails in as you remove them.

If you’re using a nail puller, then make sure that you’re wearing gloves and have a waste bin nearby as well.

Start by placing the nail puller on the head of the nail and then hitting the end of the nail puller with a hammer.

This will cause the jaws of the nail puller to close around the head of the nail. Then, you can start prying the nail out of the wood.

Related: Super Simple Ways How To Dispose Of Old Deck Wood

Step 3 – Cut the wood into smaller pieces (optional)

If you want, you can cut the wood into smaller pieces before you dispose of it. This will make it easier to transport and will also make it easier to fit into your garbage can or recycling bin.

Related: Choosing The Right Fastener And Screws For Your Deck

Step 4 – Take the wood to the landfill or recycling center

Now that the nails have been removed, and you have established whether it is residential or commercial waste, you can take the wood to the landfill or recycling center.

If you have a lot of wood, it might be best to take it to the landfill so that it doesn’t overload your recycling center.

You can also check with your municipality to see if they have any special regulations for disposing of wood with nails.

Can The Wood Be Recycled?

Out of all the waster that goes to landfill, wood is the one that gets recycled the most since there are so many use cases for recycled wood.

The process of recycling wood is actually pretty simple.

Once the nails have been removed, the wood is shredded into small pieces and then it’s used for mulch, animal bedding, or even fuel for wood-burning power plants.

So, even though you might not be able to recycle your wood with nails, the wood can still be recycled once the nails have been removed.

FAQs

Where Can I Dump Wood For Free?

Unfortunately, unless you are donating the wood to a place like Habitat for Humanity, you’re going to have to pay to dispose of it. The good news is that most landfills will take wood for a nominal fee. You can also check with your municipality to see if they have any special regulations for disposing of wood with nails. If you live in the UK, as long as it is wood from a residential property you can take it down to your local tip and dispose of it for free.

Can I put bits of wood in recycle bin?

No, unfortunately you can’t. Since wood is so easy to recycle, most local authorities want the householder to sort through their waste and remove any wood before putting it in the recycle bin. The good news is that once you’ve removed the nails, recycling wood is actually pretty easy and there are lots of different ways to recycle it. The main way is to drop it off at your local recycling center.

What wood can be recycled?

All wood can be recycled, but some is easier to recycle than others. The easiest wood to recycle is clean, untreated wood that has been cut into small pieces. You can also recycle painted wood and pressure-treated wood, but it’s best to check with your local recycling center first to see if they accept these types of wood.

Is it OK to burn wood with nails in it?

No, it’s not OK to burn wood with nails in it. The nails will release harmful toxins into the air when they are burned. If you want to dispose of wood with nails in it, the best way is to remove the nails and then take it to your local landfill or recycling center.

How do you get rid of hammered nails?

You can take your old nails down to your local recycling center or landfill. Most of these places have a special section for metals, where you can dispose of your nails. You can also try to sell your old nails online or at a scrap metal yard.

In Summary

So there you have it, everything you need to know about disposing of wood with nails.

Remember to always remove the nails before disposing of the wood, and check with your local landfill or recycling center to see if they have any special regulations.

Thanks for reading!

Related: How Do I Dispose Of Patio Pavers? (QUICK AND EASY)

About the Author

Passionate about helping households transition to sustainable energy with helpful information and resources.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}