Composting and treated lumber

Treated lumber doesn't hurt carpenter bees

I know if you don't use treated lumber then your wood will BECOME part of the compost, dunno how treated holds up but if it breaks down it makes sense that it goes into your compost

 

the new ACQ treatment formula contains no arsenic like the old one did.
so far no reports of leaching copper causing any problems.
if you use the ACQ products you also need hot galvanized nails, ceramic coated or stainless steel screws.

 

I don't know the science behind treated lumber or how dangerous it *really* is. In researching my new compost bin and raised planters that we are building this year, we have found that the experienced gardeners almost unanimously recommend against using treated lumber. Whether this is warranted or not, I don't know.

We are making our planters out of redwood though (cedar was a close runner up). Our new compost pile, we are probably going to build like a wire cage or buy one of the plastic ones.