Reuse aluminum baking sheets in veggie garden? - Ask Extension
Hi extension team,
I have several dozen used aluminum baguette baking sheets. I want to reuse them in our vegetable garden as a border. Research onli...
Knowledgebase
Reuse aluminum baking sheets in veggie garden? #865862
Asked April 25, 2024, 11:32 AM EDT
Hi extension team,
I have several dozen used aluminum baguette baking sheets. I want to reuse them in our vegetable garden as a border. Research online about safety and leeching is mixed. Do you have any perspective on whether these would be safe to use in the ground? They are aluminum with a glaze and have been used for commercial food production. The product is here: https://www.katom.com/225-49034.html
Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide!
Benton County Oregon
Expert Response
Hello,
Unfortunately I am not able to find any research-based information regarding aluminum use for raised beds. This document below has many other materials, including galvanized steel, but I don't see anything about aluminum.
https://louisville.edu/cepm/pdf-files/newpg28
The research may not have been done yet, since it is far less commonly used than wood materials, which does have research about leaching potential. Your use of the pans may just depend on your tolerance of risk since it is unknown if they might leach anything into the soil.
Thank you for using Ask Extension!
Unfortunately I am not able to find any research-based information regarding aluminum use for raised beds. This document below has many other materials, including galvanized steel, but I don't see anything about aluminum.
https://louisville.edu/cepm/pdf-files/newpg28
The research may not have been done yet, since it is far less commonly used than wood materials, which does have research about leaching potential. Your use of the pans may just depend on your tolerance of risk since it is unknown if they might leach anything into the soil.
Thank you for using Ask Extension!
Thank you for the quick reply! That’s consistent with what I found. I appreciate your help!
Rachel
