How to Dispose of Lumber & Wood
Old studs, baseboards, fence boards, and cabinet scraps all count as lumber and wood waste — and not all of it needs to end up in a landfill. What you can do with it depends heavily on one thing: whether it's treated or untreated.
1. Sell It
Untreated lumber in decent condition — old barn boards, hardwood flooring, timber framing — can genuinely be worth something to reclaimed-wood buyers and local flea markets or Facebook Marketplace groups. Pressure-treated lumber is a much harder sell; most buyers won't touch it due to the chemical treatment.
2. Donate It
Habitat for Humanity ReStores accept unused or gently used lumber at many locations, along with cabinets, doors, and flooring. Not every ReStore takes every material, so a quick call before dropping off saves a wasted trip. Find your nearest ReStore →
3. Recycle It
Untreated wood can often be chipped or mulched at a local recycling facility. Pressure-treated lumber cannot — it should never be burned or mulched, since the preservative chemicals (including arsenic compounds in lumber treated before 2004) release into ash or wood chips. Use Earth911's locator to find a wood-accepting recycler near you. Search Earth911 →
4. Dispose of It
For a full renovation, deck teardown, or shed demolition generating more lumber than you can sell, donate, or recycle piece by piece, a dumpster is the practical answer — especially once nails, hardware, and mixed treated/untreated wood make sorting impractical.
NorthPoint's Construction Debris page covers sizing and pricing specifics for this exact material.
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