The feasibility of using spent or out-of-service CCA treated wood as a component of wood/cement composites was evaluated. Cold pressed wood particle cement boards were made using CCA treated particles from a red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) pole removed from service and from untreated red pine wood from a new pole. Boards were manufactured using a range of wood to cement ratios and water to cement ratios. After curing the boards were evaluated for bending strength and stiffness, internal bond strength, water absorption, thickness swell, decay resistance and CCA leaching properties. The inclusion of CCA treated wood in the composite resulted in improved physical and mechanical properties compared to board made with untreated wood. There was also evidence of improved decay resistance in boards with spent CCA treated wood. Arsenic and copper leaching losses were very low from the wood cement composite compared to leaching from equivalent amounts of CCA treated wood. However, chromium leaching rates were not reduced.

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