About 10 years ago I made a compost bin partly out of tanalised wood. Is there any significant danger of arsenic leaching into the compos, and so into my veg, or am I fussing about nothing. I understand that arsenic is present in many soild naturally, anyway.
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I assume you've been using the bin Fuggle - in which case - it's probably too late to start worrying now!!
They do recommend not using any wood stains /preservatives etc on bins but most ready made bins are made of treated timber anyway so I'm not sure what they have in them that's different. If you're worried about it could you perhaps make a lining for it out of a breathable material or even plastic with some holes for ventilation. I've done something similar with mine using an old cover for outdoor furniture.
I will do something similar to make a lid for it too. Hope that helps
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I say, what a very smart compost bin you have there Fairygirl. Better not let you see what mine looks like.
I looked into this before making my raised beds out of decking boards, and the answer is recent pressure treated wood is not dangerous, that said, boards from before ~2003 could be.
Here is a link to one of the sources i used.
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/archived-growing-techniques/information-pressure-treated-boards_26516.html
Thanks a lot folks
Very kind of you to say so Fuggle! It'll be better when I get it finished. Would have been easier making it from scratch as it's a bought one that you slot together but it means you can't remove the front to get compost out. Instead of saving myself some time and effort it created more!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...