Currently, you only have a few choices:

1. Sell, or give them away

Make sure the recipient is aware that the posts have been treated with the timber preservative ‘CCA’ (copper, chromium, arsenic).  If you are giving away posts, consider placing a sign on the pile saying: “Treated timber – Don’t burn”.  Burning CCA-treated timber releases highly toxic compounds.  The remaining ash is also toxic to human health and will contaminate the soil.

2. Licensed landfill

Unwanted CCA posts can be taken to a licensed landfill that has appropriate protocols in place.

Landfills charge a disposal fee, which varies according to the state it’s located in, and whether it’s regional or metropolitan. The cost of licensed landfill disposal varies greatly, from around $120 per tonne to over $500 per tonne.

It always pays to contact the landfill prior to delivery as they may need time to prepare the site to receive the posts. 

3. Stockpile safely

If the above choices aren’t an option for you, stockpile the posts safely.  This guide provides details on what to do to stockpile posts safely to minimise risk to your property, the community and the environment.  In summary:

• SITE. Choose a location that has easy vehicle access for fire management and loading, is away from waterways, and is free of material that is a fire risk.  A weed-free ‘hard stand’ is ideal.
• SEPARATE CCA posts from other treated timbers such as creosote.
• STORE the posts off the ground, for example in stacks on bearers.  This reduces contact between the CCA posts and the ground, which slows down potential decay of the timber.  Arrange the posts in neat and stable stacks and store CCA and creosote posts in different piles.

Wine Australia is working with partners to create alternative, low-emissions uses for end-of-life CCA posts.

Our goal is to develop viable opportunities to divert CCA timber from landfill and create new, valuable products within regional communities.  This is big challenge that will only succeed if 4 issues are addressed:

1. Data.  How many posts (tonnes) and other CCA-treated timber exists at locations around Australia?  What’s the condition of the material?  What could it be used for? What are the logistics and cost involved with its transport to potential processors?
2. Regulatory barriers. Some existing regulations discourage the reuse or recycling of CCA-treated timber, and only consider its disposal as a waste to landfill.
3. Reuse and recycling technologies.  Technologies or processes which claim to have a solution for used CCA posts need to be evaluated.  Do they comply with regulatory requirements?  Are they economically viable?
4. Stewardship/collection. Given the long lifespan of CCA timber, a post purchased today could still be in circulation in 2064.  There is therefore a need to investigate a sustainable business model to support the ongoing collection and transport of CCA timber for end-of-life processing.

Wine Australia’s existing investments are across these four areas and include:

• Survey of vineyard owners to determine use of treated timber vineyard posts, their distribution across Australia, and attitudes to disposal.
• Co-investment in the Timber Circularity Project (TCP).  Outputs from this Project will include:
  • Best practice guide to stockpiling CCA posts
  • Review of regulatory barriers to CCA timber reuse and recycling
  • Resource map showing location and tonnages of CCA posts and landfill facilities
  • Data indicating the durability and strength of used CCA vineyard posts
  • Pilot/s to test regulatory constraints and evaluate up to 3 potential uses for CCA posts
• Commissioning the Treated Timber Stewardship Scheme Design Prospectus.  The Prospectus outlines the purpose, benefits, approach and estimated costs of designing and establishing a treated timber stewardship scheme in Australia, with an initial focus on CCA posts.

Future investments being considered by Wine Australia include:

• Risk and feasibility analysis of regional collection and aggregation of CCA posts
• Evaluation of alternative technologies for recycling of CCA posts, and support for development of a commercial prototype

Unfortunately, current disposal options for creosote posts are limited and similar to those listed for CCA posts.  You may find that there are far more sites authorised by your EPA that accept creosote posts than CCA posts.

If you are stockpiling creosote posts, follow the steps recommended for CCA posts.

In the future, new end-of-life solutions developed for CCA posts will most likely be suitable for creosote posts.