How to Dispose of Old Railroad Ties?

Railroad ties are mostly made of creosote-treated wood.

Although newer composite ties made from recycled materials are beginning to appear in the industry, the old railroad ties can deteriorate quickly and often need frequent replacement.

However, the bulky, often chemically treated leftover timbers aren’t your typical yard waste.

Knowing how to dispose of them properly is not only a matter of convenience but also safety, environmental responsibility, and sometimes even local regulations.

In This Article We Will Cover:

Risks of Old Railroad Ties

Most railroad ties are made from wood treated with creosote, a preservative designed to protect the timber from rot, insects, and the relentless wear of outdoor conditions.

It does an excellent job at extending the life of the wood, but it also complicates what happens when those ties reach the end of their service life.

Creosote itself is a complex mixture of chemicals, and not all of them behave the same way in the environment.

Some of its components are water-soluble, meaning they can dissolve and move with rainwater.

Others slowly migrate through soil and into groundwater, while certain heavier compounds remain behind, forming a sticky, tar-like residue in the surrounding soil.

Once creosote compounds reach groundwater, they don’t disappear overnight. In fact, they can take years to break down naturally, allowing them time to accumulate in nearby plants and animals.

For that reason, creosote has long been treated with caution by environmental and health agencies, and several of its compounds are considered potentially carcinogenic to humans.

In other words, while creosote is excellent at preserving the old railroad ties, it’s far less welcome once it begins interacting with the environment.

Disposing of Old Used Railroad Ties

The way to get rid of railroad ties is similar to the process of throwing out any other kind of solid waste.

Even so, before getting rid of them with other solid waste in your recycle bin, it is important to check with the local agencies and make sure you are disposing of the materials in accordance with the law.

Some places do not allow disposing of materials that have any toxic chemicals like creosote. It is important to get familiar with the rules before you proceed.

Below are the two methods you can use to get rid of railroad ties:

1. Dispose of them in a landfill

The safest method to get rid of old railroad ties is to throw them out in a landfill. Most states have regulated landfills that accept these railroad ties.

You’ll need to first get in contact with the local landfill and ask if they accept these materials.

The decision for a landfill to accept or deny a railroad tie is dependent on any decisions made by the solid waste management department or the waste management authority of the state.

If the landfill does accept railroad ties, it’s important to clearly label them and then dispose of them separately from the other trash you are dumping.

Furthermore, if the railroad ties have been treated with any kind of toxic chemical, you will need to alert the landfill workers and tell them.

Don’t drop off treated railroad ties without letting them know beforehand and getting express permission.

You must also make sure that you remove any adhesive linings, screws, nails, and other materials from the railroad ties before you transport them to the landfill.

Be extra careful when removing such things from railroad ties, and mind the size of the railroad ties themselves.

The ties cannot be more than eight feet long if you intend to toss them into a landfill.

2. Burn the old railroad ties safely

Burning railroad ties in certain residential areas are only an option if the railroad ties are untreated and are made only of wood.

You can burn any railroad ties that are untreated as a source of fuel, just like you would any other kind of wood.

That said, for any treated railroad ties, you have to follow the Federal Air Pollution Control guidelines.

These guidelines permit the combustion of railroad ties in certain high-temperature combustion chambers like a power plant, kiln, or boiler.

Such high heat effectively burns off any hazardous materials contained in the railroad ties, including creosote.

Be sure to remove any non-wood elements like screws, nails, and other metal pieces from the railroad ties before you burn them, regardless of whether they are untreated or treated. Be careful when you complete this process.

Can You Reuse and Recycle Old Railroad Ties?

The Environmental Protection Agency encourages you to reuse the materials cautiously whenever it is possible. And one of the materials they recommend reusing is railroad ties.

This is especially true when the railroad ties are in good condition and can be recycled or reused.

Below, you’ll find a few ways that you can reuse railroad ties instead of adding them to the local landfill:

a) Burn railroad ties as a biomass source of fuel

There are various incineration plants found throughout the United States that use railroad ties as biomass material.

Because of this, railroad ties can be burned at a biomass power facility and therefore transformed into fuel.

This fuel material can be shipped to various regions across the nation and even internationally.

If you have a lot of railroad ties and aren’t sure what to do with them, you can take them to a power plant that uses biomass to make fuel.

If you aren’t familiar with any such facilities local to you, you can ask for help from landfill authorities and your local waste collection agency to point you in the right direction.

b) Use railroad ties in business or home landscaping projects

Another option is to use railroad ties in any commercial or domestic landscaping projects you have upcoming.

They are effective for a number of creative applications, including lining plant beds, driveways, walkways, and fences.

They are also able to be used to retain walls and as landscape timbers. By using railroad ties this way, you can make sure they don’t end up clogging landfills or burning wastefully.

How to Keep Old Treated Railroad Ties from Rotting?

Old treated railroad ties are designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, but even with creosote treatment, they can eventually deteriorate if they are constantly exposed to moisture.

If you plan to store or reuse them, proper safety storage and handling can help slow down rot while minimizing environmental and health risks.

Key Safety Storage Tips

Keep ties elevated: Store them on gravel, pallets, or concrete blocks instead of directly on soil.

Choose a dry location: Moisture is the main cause of rot, so pick an area with good drainage.
Limit human and pet contact: Keep ties away from play areas, gardens, and walkways.
Wear protective gear: Use gloves, long sleeves, and a mask when handling them.

Avoid cutting or burning: Sawing or burning treated ties releases harmful creosote fumes and dust.

When reusing railroad ties, stick to low-contact structural projects such as retaining walls, decorative landscape borders in non-edible areas, or base supports for heavy structures like shipping containers.

These uses minimize direct human contact while taking advantage of the wood’s durability.

Some people also bury railroad ties to stabilize them for landscaping structures. If this is done, they should be placed in areas where they will not affect vegetable gardens, wells, or groundwater sources.

Storage Factor	Best Practice	Why It Matters
Ground Contact	Keep ties raised on gravel, pallets, or blocks	Prevents moisture buildup that causes rot
Location	Store away from wells, ponds, and gardens	Reduces risk of soil or water contamination
Handling	Wear gloves, mask, and protective clothing	Limits exposure to creosote residue
Cutting/Burning	Avoid completely	Releases toxic fumes and dust
Access	Keep away from children and pets	Reduces accidental contact with chemicals

Safety Guidelines When Disposing of or Recycling Railroad Ties

Ideally, you should never burn creosote-treated railroad ties.

Combusting them risks the release of toxic chemicals and gases through their smoke, which can cause various health hazards.

The wood ash from burned, treated railroad ties that have creosote in them will also be quite toxic and potentially harmful to your health.

Moreover, if you want to cut treated railroad ties using a power tool, it is best to wear a mask and goggles.

This will prevent you from breathing in the toxic sawdust or getting it in your eyes. If not, you could cause respiratory issues, like difficulty breathing.

Safety Guidelines for Homeowners

Though creosote is not often used to treat wood in residential settings, you will commonly see it in railroad ties that are used in landscaping in domestic areas.

For this reason, the Environmental Protection Agency has output certain guidelines for homeowners who are dealing with creosote-treated railroad ties near their surroundings.

The guidelines recommend that homeowners:

Avoid contact with the skin and wash any clothing that comes in contact with creosote-treated wood separately from other clothing in the house.
Don’t burn the treated railroad ties in fireplaces, open fires, residential boilers, or wood stoves since the ashes and smoke might put out toxic materials.

Wear goggles to protect your eyes when sawing wood, especially treated wood.
Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and durable chemical-resistant gloves to protect your skin.

In the United States, millions of railroad ties are taken out of facilities each year.

Most of these used railroad ties that tend to average 30 years of age are burned to generate heat and power.

Some also end up in landfills, and any remaining railroad ties that still have the potential for use are usually converted into landscape timbers and then used in landscaping projects.

That said, the low cost of natural gas, as well as the guidelines surrounding reusing or burning chemically treated ties, has increased the number of railroad ties in landfills.

In 2017, Nisus Corp., a wood preservative company, worked for hand in hand with a group of Tennessee-based researchers to create a thermochemical process on a commercial scale.

This process worked to drive up the value of railroad ties while also reducing their effect on the environment when disposed of.

The process involves chopping up the railroad ties and heating the remaining material to pull harmful chemicals like creosote from it. The cleaned-up wood can then be burned for fuel or used to make environmentally-friendly railroad ties.

Related FAQs:

Are railroad ties flammable?

Yes, railroad ties are flammable due to the creosote that is used to treat them. Creosote is an oily, black substance that is extremely flammable and can make a fire more difficult to put out.

Also, remember, because of the dangers posed by the creosote that is used to treat them, it is not safe to use railroad ties in a garden.

Additionally, as the wood slowly breaks down, it will release this toxic brew into your soil, contaminating it and your food.

How long are railroad ties toxic?

Railroad ties can remain toxic for several decades, mainly because they are treated with creosote, a heavy wood preservative designed to resist decay.

Creosote chemicals slowly leach out over time, especially when exposed to rain, heat, and soil moisture.

Even ties that are 20–40 years old can still release harmful compounds into the surrounding soil.

While the concentration gradually decreases, many components break down very slowly and may persist in soil and groundwater for years, which is why old railroad ties are still treated as potentially hazardous material in many disposal regulations.

Can I mulch railroad ties in the garden?

No, you should not mulch or shred railroad ties for garden use, particularly in areas where food is grown.

Breaking them down releases toxic chemicals (because of coal- and wood-tar preservatives) that can contaminate soil and potentially leach into groundwater.

The dust and fumes produced when cutting or shredding the wood can also be harmful to inhale or touch.

If you plan to reuse them in landscaping, limit their use to places like retaining walls or decorative borders, where they won’t come into contact with edible plants or frequent skin contact.

For gardening, it’s far safer to use untreated wood chips or natural bark mulch instead.

Final Thoughts

Old railroad ties may have done their job supporting railways for years, but once they’re removed, they quickly turn into a disposal challenge.

Their size, weight, and chemical treatments (with creosote) make them far different from ordinary wood waste.

Whether you’re replacing landscaping ties or clearing out old materials, understanding the proper way to get rid of railroad ties can save you time, prevent environmental harm, and keep you on the right side of local regulations.

So dumping them in the regular trash, burning them, or breaking them down for mulch isn’t the answer. Instead, you’ll need to follow safer and often regulated disposal methods.

Hi, I am Mark Garner a professional carpenter, woodworker, and DIY painter. I live in the small city of Peoria, Arizona as a semi-retired woodworker. I have started this blog with a simple motive to help you with my wood experience in this sector. If you like to know more about what I love doing and how it all got started, you can check more about me here.