It is never a good idea to burn laminate flooring. While laminate flooring does contain some amount of pressed wood which originated as an organic material, the flooring is also made of several layers of synthetic materials.
The core layer is made from melamine resin and fiberboard. The top layer is imprinted with a texture to look like real wood and coated with aluminum oxide that releases toxins and creates a harmful gas when it is burned.
Problems with Burning Laminate Flooring
The main reason why laminate is unsafe to burn is that when the flooring is burned, it releases harmful gasses. The culprits that make it most dangerous to burn are the top layer that contains an aluminum oxide coating as well as the adhesive that bonds with the wood. If these are burned, the fumes are harmful to breathe.
These toxins are not safe to breathe, they can cause the following issues:
- Irritate the skin
- Harm the eyes
- Irritate the nose, throat, and lungs potentially causing an asthmatic reaction
- May harm the environment
If we were to burn them, laminate flooring is toxic and generally considered to be a household hazardous waste. The reason laminate flooring is put in the category of such a hazard is because of the wood bonding adhesives and coating that may be harmful to humans and to animals.
The adhesive used to make laminate floors consists of melamine resin formaldehyde, cyanuric acid, isocyanates, and aluminum oxide. The resin formaldehyde breaks down into urea-formaldehyde UF, phenol-formaldehyde PF, and melamine-formaldehyde MF. All of these are considered to be on the list of human carcinogens. Exposure to melamine and cyanuric acid may lead to permanent kidney damage.
Laminate flooring is made of layers that include:
- Backing layer provides moisture resistance to the underside
- Fiberboard core
- Design layer that gives the appearance of wood grain
- The transparent protective layer that contains an aluminum oxide coating
Most of the harmful components are part of the floor itself. However, any adhesives used to secure the flooring in place are also dangerous to burn. Of course, on the bright side, if your laminate flooring was a floating floor, you will most likely not have the harmful adhesive to deal with, and it will be easier to pull up for disposal.
How to Dispose of Laminate Flooring Safely
Some local waste disposal regulations may tell you that it is safe to simply throw away small pieces of the flooring. They may even classify laminate flooring as general household garbage. But, if you simply toss even small pieces of the laminate flooring into the garbage, it will end up in the landfill, which is not a good idea.
The problem with just tossing it into a landfill is that laminate is made of several layers of different components that cannot be incinerated. And, if they are left in a landfill, they will not break down.
The top layer has a coating of aluminum oxide, the layer underneath the coating is made of melamine resin, and the backing layer is also melamine. These layers will not decompose like organic matter or pure wood.
To dispose of large laminate floor planks:
- You may need to take them directly to a recycling center.
- If the laminate flooring you are getting rid of was part of a floating floor with no adhesives, you could contact local contractors who may want your discards to use on a house renovation.
- Or, pay for a junk hauler to dispose of it properly.
What About Recycling?
Thanks to new technology in manufacturing laminate flooring, as much as 85% can now be recycled. However, not every recycling facility is capable of processing laminate flooring. It is possible to recycle laminate flooring. However, you cannot simply place an entire floor into your curbside recycling bin for pickup.
To be sure, start by checking with the manufacturer’s guidelines. If you cannot find the answer, it’s possible that a specialist at the flooring store where you purchased it may know how to go about disposing of or recycling the flooring.
In recent years, processes have been developed to make it possible to recycle laminate flooring. Some processes claim that they are able to separate and isolate the various parts of the laminate flooring.
One of these processes involves cutting up the panels into smaller sizes, mixing the cut pieces with a binder, and then pressing everything under heat to form a new sheet of material. This new sheet of recycled material can then form the core of new laminate flooring and be recycled in this manner several times over.
Unfortunately, these recycling technologies and processes are not yet available everywhere.
Up-Cycling or Re-Purposing Laminate Flooring
Instead of recycling, laminate flooring can be up-cycled or re-purposed for other projects so long as they are used inside. Laminate flooring is not intended for outdoor use.
Some flooring manufacturers or contractors will accept old flooring to recycle into eco-friendly products again.
Used laminate can be re-purposed into new tabletops, headboards for beds, wall décor, shelving, or used for cupboard boards.
If the floors are still in usable condition, another way to recycle or up-cycle the flooring is to contact local charities like Habitat for Humanity or offer it on a local marketplace where someone may buy it or pick it up for free to use for their floors. Savvy rehabbers may be able to use the planks to lay flooring for those in need.
Final Thoughts
Laminate flooring is considered eco-friendly to manufacture since it does not rely on deforestation and instead uses recycled wood or by-products to create. However, when you are ready to change out your floors for a new look, the laminate flooring is dangerous to burn and a bit tricky to dispose of or recycle.
It may be difficult to find a recycling center capable of sustainably handling the laminate. Always check with your local authorities first. Or, find a way to re-purpose or up-cycle the laminate flooring instead.