Is Plastic Lumber Safe for the Vegetable Garden?

There is reasonable fear about plastic and recycled plastic materials. Once deemed safe, now some recycled plastic items are not recommended for use with food or can only be used with food if not subjected to high heat. Recycled plastic lumber is safe for vegetable gardens.

Significance

• Bisphenol A and phthalates are the two major potentially harmful chemicals found in many plastic and recycled plastic products including baby bottles, containers that touch food and toys such as some rubber duckies and other plastic toys that infants and young children are likely to chew on.

  Recycled plastic lumber does not contain and touch cooked food, nor do young children chew on it. It does not leach out chemicals, making it a safe alternative to wooden lumber around vegetable gardens.

Benefits

• There are benefits to using recycled plastic lumber to both the gardener and the community. This lumber does not absorb chemicals, moisture or bacteria. It does not rot. It does not splinter nor require painting or other forms of maintenance. It does not attract insects. And it requires no chemical sealants or preservatives the way wood lumber does.

  The community benefits when gardeners choose recycled plastic lumber because it protects forests and decreases the pile-up in landfills.

Types

• Recycled plastic lumber is available both as pieces to cut as well as already made into raised beds, planter pots and other garden accessories.