Recycling utility poles and bridge timbers
Recycling of timber taken from demolished bridges and redundant power poles is now more viable than disposing of this timber in landfill or using it as fuel. The practice of reusing timber is becoming more important as hardwood timber supplies are reducing.
The Protocols for Recycling Redundant Utility Poles and Bridge Timbers (110617RecTimb.pdf, 1MB) provides guidance for infrastructure managers, engineers, waste management contractors and timber recyclers to responsibly recycle timber from demolished wooden bridges and redundant timber power poles in New South Wales.
The protocols have five main purposes:
- to encourage maximum reuse and recycling of timbers
- to guide infrastructure managers when providing timber to timber recyclers
- to assist in clarifying if the timber should be regarded as waste
- to create confidence in the quality of timber products produced from redundant poles and bridge timbers
- to identify appropriate recycling and disposal options and improve awareness of possible regulatory requirements.
The Case Study (110618RecTimbCS.pdf, 606KB) shows the application of the Protocols by Integral Energy, a major NSW electricity distribution network manager and retailer. Integral Energy partnered with Australian Architectural Hardwoods in Kempsey to recycle the wooden poles.
Page last updated: 09 August 2011
