ST. LOUIS – An Ameren initiative to repurpose retiring wood utility poles for commercial applications prevented 2,100 tons of wood waste from being discarded in area landfills last year.
On average, Ameren replaces 24,000 poles in its two-state service territory each year due to storm damage, vehicle accidents, or scheduled upgrades to poles. Local recycling companies haul the poles to their facilities, where the poles are broken down and reused as raw material for fencing, landscaping, and building materials.
Since the program’s inception in 2022, the company has recycled 5,500 tons of wood waste, diverting the equivalent weight of twenty-two 787 passenger planes from landfills. The typical 40-foot wooden power pole in local neighborhoods weighs approximately 1,000 pounds.
“Our poles are treated with a preservative that makes them durable but difficult to recycle in a traditional manner,” said Kyle Maxwell, superintendent of Electric Operations for Ameren Illinois. “Through partnerships with local recycling companies like Blackwood Solutions, we’ve developed a responsible solution that puts the poles to use and keeps them out of the dumpster.”
“This program embodies our commitment to environmental stewardship and reducing or eliminating waste wherever possible,” said Jennifer Spalding, manager of Environmental Compliance & and Strategy for Ameren. “We’re working with suppliers, our own team, and our customers to develop an effective program and reach our goals.”
