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What to do with flooded firewood

steve390steve390 Posts: 24
in Problem solving
Hi, folks. Last January we had a major flood from the nearby river and several logs (over 100) of firewood were washed over by the flood water. They all now appear to have significant mold spots and blackening from the toxic water. I don't want to burn them, apart from the fact that we no longer have a wood burner and because of the likelihood of releasing pollutants from the wood, but I'm not sure what is the best and safest way of recycling them? Any suggestions welcome. Thanks!

Posts

  • mac12mac12 Posts: 209
    Why was the water toxic? What is the wood that is full of pollutants?
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    What pollutants do you think might be in the logs?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Assuming they mean CO2
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Make a nice big log pile somewhere a bit shady and allow nature to to take its course.
    It would be a haven for bugs, wildlife, fungi and bacteria. All of which will will benefit your garden.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • steve390steve390 Posts: 24
    It's flood water from the local river so it would have, at a minimum, industrial waste, dead animals, oil and fuel from the boats, a high concentration of salt from the sea. The local environment agency made it clear that anything touched by the water would be contaminated so we ended up having to dispose of a lot of stuff that was at ground level after the flood. Thankfully we were insured but the drying out and refit of the property is still going on.

    I'll go with Pete.8's suggestion of making a natural log pile as hopefully it won't cause issues for the local wildlife.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I agree with Pete.  Rain and time will heal. And the new inhabitants will decide whether it is fit for them or not.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • mac12mac12 Posts: 209
    After the way you have described the wood I would leave it to dry out and burn it on my fire without giving it a 2nd thought 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I agree it would make for a wonderful wood pile for critters.
  • steve390steve390 Posts: 24
    Many thanks to everybody. I will go with the log pile as that is the most ecologically friendly option. We'll source cleaner wood if we ever need any for the wood fire.
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