Many people find the romance of railroad tracks enticing in a country crisscrossed by a thick network of railroad tracks, even succumbing to the fad of utilizing disused railroad ties in landscaping and garden design for a touch of rustic charm. However, given the weight and size of these rail supports, as well as growing awareness of the chemical treatment used in their production, many people are wondering how they should dispose of these hazardous woods.

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Wood ties account for more than 95 percent of railroad ties laid in North America, according to the Railway Tie Association, and they’re easy to get by. They’ve long been seen as an acceptable, innocuous feature in landscape design, sold by organizations that provide reused railroad materials and supplied by some garden retailers. They’re everywhere as retaining walls, fences, steps, flower boxes, and raised garden bed borders, and they’re both utilitarian and ornamental. However, an increasingly aware public is rejecting the use of harmful creosote-preserved ties, and because the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not regulate the reuse of treated wood, dangers are not assessed by the agency. Only the health dangers to creosote applicators are addressed by the agency.

Before taking action, make sure to verify with your waste management programs, especially since moving such huge timbers is challenging. Some landfills, for example, would only accept ties that have been chopped down to 4-foot lengths, and others will limit the number of ties you can bring. Other cities only allow bulk waste to be disposed of at the curb on designated bulk pickup days. Keep in mind that younger, unweathered creosote-treated railroad ties provide a greater risk than older ones. You should seek assistance from the state and municipal agencies you contact in determining the age of the ties, as some landfills may refuse to accept newer ties that they consider hazardous garbage.