Avoid free woodchip?

[cally23]

I was on Chit chat and tack FB yesterday and a lady on there was saying that this FREE WOODCHIP in ESSEX is full of Nails Asbestos and other nasties that is being incorporated in the wood chip.
In my humble opinion there is no such thing as FREE- WITHOUT A STING IN ITS TAIL.

I do not know this company or person offering FREE WOODCHIP, please read what this ex employer and others who have had a disastourous delivery of FREE WOODCHIP on CHIT CHAT AND TACK

 

[Shay]

It is highly unlikely to have Asbestos in it as that is a controlled substance and the HSE would be all over it. Although I accept not completely impossible - the supplier would have to be not only a complete rouge but also a total idiot as chipping something with asbestos in it puts them in as much if not actually more risk than someone who collects it.

But more generally - free woodchip is not likely to be dust extracted or produced only for animal bedding. It will be a by product which would otherwise cost the supplier to dispose of. But it might do to line a gateway etc.

 

[only_me]

It could just be that someone had a tree down in the recent storms and has cut & chipped it, and thought someone might want it for free as then it will save them the hassle of taking it away.

 

[Auslander]

I get loads of free woodchip, which I use in my turnout pens. It comes from a local tree surgeon, who only brings me non-toxic varieties, and removes ivy before he chips the trees. I'm delighted with it

 

[southerncomfort]

The problem with stuff like this on FB is that you never know if it's genuine or a former employee with a grudge.

I worked for my local Parish Council and when we had tree work done we'd leave the woodchip in the car park for anyone to collect who wanted it.

 

[cundlegreen]

I get loads of free woodchip, which I use in my turnout pens. It comes from a local tree surgeon, who only brings me non-toxic varieties, and removes ivy before he chips the trees. I'm delighted with it

Same here, I use it as an underbedding with straw on top. Saves me a lot of money!

 

[taraj]

I saw that post, hubby is a tree surgeon so I have loads of free wood chip. I am not sure how that company managed to get nails/asbestos/rubbish in it? Surly that would brake the wood chipper putting that lot through?! Unless it was on the trailer/truck already? Hubby has found the remains of a shell (or something!) thought to be from the war in a tree before and maybe the odd nail but never asbestos!.

 

[ester]

The problem with stuff like this on FB is that you never know if it's genuine or a former employee with a grudge.

I worked for my local Parish Council and when we had tree work done we'd leave the woodchip in the car park for anyone to collect who wanted it.

Tbf recipients of the product have corroborated about its quality or lack thereof

 

[cally23]

I hope I didn't worry anyone, yes it may have been a disgruntled employer but the lady said that she had just recommended them, there was quite a lot of replies saying that people had agreed to the wood chip and signed some type of form on delivery and had then had lots of problems as it was contaminated. It is nothing to do with me and I have never received any, I was just worried for people as the same day it appeared on the F ace book page as a warning, it was then posted for free on here.

 

[BBP]

Waste wood such as this (provided free in 20 tonne loads) is generally not a by product from a tree surgery business but a waste from demolition or pallets. Those supplying it make a huge amount of money being paid to remove demolition wood waste from customers, they then save on the cost of correct disposal by shredding it and giving it away for free. This is a criminal activity. Those receiving it are also technically committing a crime as they are receiving a waste product (again I'm not talking about virgin tree chipped wood) without the correct paperwork, environmental permits and exemptions. It can create large areas of contaminated land that can cost hundreds of thousands to clear if it contains hazardous waste like asbestos, which is sadly not at all unlikely. Wood chip from a tree surgeon is one thing but I would urge anyone offered or who has received this sort of shredded waste wood to contact the Environment Agency.