On 5/4/2013 9:13 AM, John Grossbohlin wrote:
"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
b.com...

"Jamie Jackson" wrote:

I'd like to build some raised vegetable garden beds this weekend.
(This is the design I have in mind:
http://www.sunset.com/garden/perfect...0400000039550/)

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SFWIW, I did this back in the 70's using reclaimed railroad ties.

Haven't seen them in almost 25 years, but back then (late 80's), they
still looked like they did when they were installed.

This was commonly done around here too. I recall that when old railroads
tracks were removed from defunct lines in this area that ties were
readily available to the public. Times have changed! They are maybe OK
for ornamental planting beds but not for vegetables... and possibly
banned for such use depending upon the state in question. The EPA
identifies Creosote as a possible/probable (I've seen it expressed both
ways) human carcinogen and it "has no registered residential uses." As
of 1/1/2008 New York bans repurposing creosote treated industrial
products (e.g., telephone poles, rail road ties) for residential
purposes. All that said, I recall slopping creosote on logs from 1
gallon cans purchased at a local store when I was a kid...

I looked into this recently as I'm involved in building a new rail trail
on a corridor that hasn't been used in about 35 years. The corridor
still has rails and ties along most of its length. The rails, plates,
spikes, etc. will be sold for scrap or "banked" for possible future use
but the ties need to be disposed of as hazardous waste... most are not
suitable for reuse by a working railroad.

John





That's so ridiculous. I would think that re-using them poses no real
hazard, they were always on power/phone poles on every property. And
like you I put it on the posts when I was a kid and had to rebuild our
fence gates. Certainly recycling the use is better than putting them in
a haz waste dump, they are probably not very toxic now.


--
Jeff