Utilities Searching for New Ways to Dispose of Treated Poles—Landfills No Longer an Option for Many

Distribution Systems Manager Ben Cash of Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative understands the value of a company like Koppers Recovery. “Landfills around the country are filling up and many will no longer accept certain waste streams, like utility poles which are heavy, bulky and chemically treated” he says, “That’s a dilemma. Because we’re replacing utility poles…

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As landfill space decreases costs will increase. How will utilities dispose of old poles?

For decades now, utility companies have typically relied on available landfill to dispose of old poles and wood waste. However, that option is literally shrinking as existing landfill space is declining rapidly. Currently three companies collect more than half of the nation’s trash: Waste Management, Allied Waste Industries, and Republic Services. But according to these…

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Going Green: Striking a balance between sustainability and cost

Like many industries in today’s global marketplace, utilities continue to adopt corporate-wide sustainability goals as a key part of their operating strategy. The disposal of treated and untreated wood waste is often an area in which utilities see opportunity to adopt a more “green” approach to their business practices. In the past, utility companies have…

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