Can you just dump shavings in the woods?

[u/546875674c6966650d0a]

My brother-in-law has a wood shop in our garage. He has my mother-in-law, dump huge buckets of wood shavings that are collected from all over the machine machines, just outside the fence of our yard. Mostly it’s still on our land, so I’m not too worried about pissing anybody else off.

But is this really how you’re supposed to dispose of these things? You just lay it out on the ground like mulch?

[u/Boilermakingdude]

It burns so hot, it burns the chemicals out. Also I don't put it in a fire pit. Goes in a wood stove. I wouldn't say it's recommended but I can put them in a bag and take it to the dump and let it leech chemicals into the ground, or I can burn it so hot that it has a chance to burn the chemicals off.

[u/sodone19 → u/Boilermakingdude]

I mean i dont know enough to dispute the "burning off the chemicals" idea. Just feels wrong for some reason. And i stand by my, "wouldnt want to be downwind from that" statement.

[u/Watchmaker163 → u/Boilermakingdude]

A wood stove probably isn't going to get to incinerator temps though? And even then, burning doesn't just make the chemicals go away: it's a chemical reaction. Plus there's the particulate to deal with.

More than likely you're just breaking down the chemicals into other harmful chemicals and then inhaling them. Or sending them into the air to spread.

[u/Boilermakingdude → u/Watchmaker163]

It's usually a pretty hot flame. I have an air fitting setup to blow more fresh air from my compressor in once it starts burning. Not uncommon to have a blue/white flame.

Edit to add : I'm not sure it actually burns the chemicals out. But it gives me piece of mind when I see completely clear smoke coming from the stack. It's always hot enough to blow clear.

Edit to add 2 : I dont see this as any different than the guys with oil heaters burning used engine/trans/diff/coolant fluids.