Poisoned wood in the compost
 

The auditorium in the Theatre .....
http://www.myalbum.co.uk/Album=KOB47VPH .... is being sanded back to bare
wood and treated. The wood has had all sorts of polishes and varnishes over
the years, some of which would no doubt be poisonous. If the dust is spread
and mixed in with new material going onto the compost heap, would the action
of composting 'kill' the poisons?

(All the improvements you see in the slide show have been done by
volunteers, or bought with funds raised by volunteers.)

Mike



---------------------------------------------------------------
www.friendsofshanklintheatre.co.uk
www.hmscollingwoodassociation.com
www.rneba.org.uk
www.nsrafa.org

Poisoned wood in the compost
 

"'Mike'" wrote

The auditorium in the Theatre ..... http://www.myalbum.co.uk/Album=KOB47VPH
.... is being sanded back to bare wood and treated. The wood has had all
sorts of polishes and varnishes over the years, some of which would no
doubt be poisonous. If the dust is spread and mixed in with new material
going onto the compost heap, would the action of composting 'kill' the
poisons?


I do hope the people doing that work are wearing proper face masks (not
those cheap things) and protective clothing including covering shoes so they
don't take the dust home with them. Personally I would not take any chances
where my lungs are concerned.
As it's an old place it may well have been painted with lead paint
originally so, no, composting won't improve the toxic nature of the dust.
--
Regards.
Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

Poisoned wood in the compost
 

On 10/01/2014 10:00, Bob Hobden wrote:
"'Mike'" wrote

The auditorium in the Theatre .....
http://www.myalbum.co.uk/Album=KOB47VPH .... is being sanded back to
bare wood and treated. The wood has had all sorts of polishes and
varnishes over the years, some of which would no doubt be poisonous.
If the dust is spread and mixed in with new material going onto the
compost heap, would the action of composting 'kill' the poisons?


I do hope the people doing that work are wearing proper face masks (not
those cheap things) and protective clothing including covering shoes so
they don't take the dust home with them. Personally I would not take any
chances where my lungs are concerned.
As it's an old place it may well have been painted with lead paint
originally so, no, composting won't improve the toxic nature of the dust.
--
Regards.
Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK


Only a problem with paint. Old varnish and polish is likely to be
organic in origin, shellac and vegetable based resins the most likely.
Why risk it though?

Poisoned wood in the compost
 

On 10/01/2014 08:42, 'Mike' wrote:
The auditorium in the Theatre .....
http://www.myalbum.co.uk/Album=KOB47VPH .... is being sanded back to
bare wood and treated. The wood has had all sorts of polishes and
varnishes over the years, some of which would no doubt be poisonous. If
the dust is spread and mixed in with new material going onto the compost
heap, would the action of composting 'kill' the poisons?

Not necessarily or really worth taking the chance especially if old
pigmented paints are involved as they are likely to include lead and
other heavy metal based pigments and they do not go away ever.

Most plants won't mind a bit of extra heavy metals, but they are not so
good for you to eat if you use it on your veg plot.

(All the improvements you see in the slide show have been done by
volunteers, or bought with funds raised by volunteers.)


If it is just varnish then I'd be inclined to burn it to wood ash.
Otherwise dispose of it as potentially hazardous waste.

Either way the volunteers doing the sanding should have suitable PPE.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Poisoned wood in the compost
 

On 10/01/2014 10:16, Martin Brown wrote:
On 10/01/2014 08:42, 'Mike' wrote:
The auditorium in the Theatre .....
http://www.myalbum.co.uk/Album=KOB47VPH .... is being sanded back to
bare wood and treated. The wood has had all sorts of polishes and
varnishes over the years, some of which would no doubt be poisonous. If
the dust is spread and mixed in with new material going onto the compost
heap, would the action of composting 'kill' the poisons?

Not necessarily or really worth taking the chance especially if old
pigmented paints are involved as they are likely to include lead and
other heavy metal based pigments and they do not go away ever.

Most plants won't mind a bit of extra heavy metals, but they are not so
good for you to eat if you use it on your veg plot.

(All the improvements you see in the slide show have been done by
volunteers, or bought with funds raised by volunteers.)


If it is just varnish then I'd be inclined to burn it to wood ash.
Otherwise dispose of it as potentially hazardous waste.

Either way the volunteers doing the sanding should have suitable PPE.


I would certainly do some research or consult a pro firm before letting
volunteers loose on a big project. If wood can be removed (panels etc),
consider sending it away to be stripped in a tank. If the varnish is
old, it's almost certainly going to have a low melting point, which gums
up abrasives almost instantly.

Poisoned wood in the compost
 

On 10/01/2014 10:16, Martin Brown wrote:
On 10/01/2014 08:42, 'Mike' wrote:
The auditorium in the Theatre .....
http://www.myalbum.co.uk/Album=KOB47VPH .... is being sanded back to
bare wood and treated. The wood has had all sorts of polishes and
varnishes over the years, some of which would no doubt be poisonous. If
the dust is spread and mixed in with new material going onto the compost
heap, would the action of composting 'kill' the poisons?

Not necessarily or really worth taking the chance especially if old
pigmented paints are involved as they are likely to include lead and
other heavy metal based pigments and they do not go away ever.

Most plants won't mind a bit of extra heavy metals, but they are not so
good for you to eat if you use it on your veg plot.

(All the improvements you see in the slide show have been done by
volunteers, or bought with funds raised by volunteers.)


If it is just varnish then I'd be inclined to burn it to wood ash.
Otherwise dispose of it as potentially hazardous waste.

Either way the volunteers doing the sanding should have suitable PPE.


Do your research, or consult a pro firm, before letting volunteers loose
on this type of project. E.g. old varnishes invariably have a low
melting point, and will gum up abrasives instantly. If wood is
demountable (panels, t&g etc), send it away to be chemically stripped in
a tank. Getting 99% off is the easy bit :-)

Poisoned wood in the compost
 

"'Mike'" wrote in message ...

The auditorium in the Theatre .....
http://www.myalbum.co.uk/Album=KOB47VPH .... is being sanded back to bare
wood and treated. The wood has had all sorts of polishes and varnishes over
the years, some of which would no doubt be poisonous. If the dust is spread
and mixed in with new material going onto the compost heap, would the action
of composting 'kill' the poisons?

(All the improvements you see in the slide show have been done by
volunteers, or bought with funds raised by volunteers.)

============================================

Very many thanks to the very sensible replies. With regards to the masks and
protection, that is being dealt with thank you.

Whilst we are all 'volunteers', the background skills and experience cover
the complete range to carry out these tasks and where the skill is missing
or the volunteer does not have the time, the experts are fetched in, such as
the new Fire and Intruder Alarm System. The installation of all of the new
seating. The installation of the new on line booking system, which has
proved very popular and very important, a Certificated Electrician to carry
out modifications and improvements to the Electrical Installation etc etc
etc.

Thank you for all the kind comments.

And when you come on holiday to the Isle of Wight, pop in and see us.

Want a tour backstage and everywhere when you come on holiday so you can see
the improvements the "Friends of Shanklin Theatre" have done and won The
Queen's Award For Voluntary Services? email me :-)

Mike


---------------------------------------------------------------
www.friendsofshanklintheatre.co.uk
www.hmscollingwoodassociation.com
www.rneba.org.uk
www.nsrafa.org