How to Dispose of Utility Poles

In the United States, utility poles are everywhere you look. They serve an important purpose supporting the electrical lines that power nearby businesses and houses. According to the Environmental Literacy Council, there are about 150 million wooden utility poles throughout the country. Approximately six million of these poles are replaced annually, which means the old poles must be properly disposed.

Instructions

• 1

  Put on protective gear, such as hazard suits, protective gloves and protective face masks to avoid breathing in any toxins, which may be released. Burn the treated wood at a low temperature, which will release about 20 percent of copper, chromium and arsenic into the atmosphere, rather than higher temperatures that release as much as 77 percent, according to Environmental Literacy Council.

• 2

  Shave off the outer treated layer of the wood from the pole and either discard it in a landfill or burn off. Re-mill the preservative-free wood cores. Recycle the re-milled wood as mulch or other landscaping materials and lumber products.

• 3

  Dispose of the pole in a landfill, which may cause chemical preservatives that were originally used in the making of the pole to be released. According to the Environmental Literacy Council, the chemicals found in utility poles are hazardous to the environment.