Retired or broken power poles are getting special "tree-tment" as part of Ameren Illinois' new utility pole recycling program and the results are positive. In 2022, the initiative's first year, the company diverted nearly 750 tons of wood waste from being discarded into local landfills.

For Kyle Maxwell, Superintendent of Electric Operations for Ameren, it is something that is good for Ameren but also good for the environment.

Power poles are damaged or retired for several reasons: If poles break after a storm, if poles break after a vehicle accident, if they need to be upgraded or storm hardened the electric grid to remove poles at the end of lifespan, and if a  Commercial or industry business leaves a community and the poles and equipment need to be removed.

The utility works with Blackwood Solutions. Blackwood Solutions is a recycling company that specializes in repurposing or recycling old or broken power poles for fencing, landscaping or building materials. Customers and nonprofits can still request decommissioned poles from Ameren Illinois to use for parking lot borders and fences.

Maxwell said prior to recycling initiative, Ameren Illinois placed its wood waste into dumpsters, which was hauled away and consumed a sizeable footprint in the landfill. A typical 40-foot pole weighs approximately 1,000 pounds.

The average lifespan of a utility pole is 40 years, due to a chemical treatment that keeps the bugs and decay out of the inside. Ameren Illinois installs about 12,000 poles per year. The company has approximately 1.3 million single poles and nearly 9,500 multi-pole structures across its 43,700-square-mile service territory.

Ameren Illinois is extending its agreement with Blackwood Solutions in 2023 to include recycling wooden pallets. Blackwood will actually come to the site to pick up poles as well.

"We are committed to environmental stewardship and operating to reduce waste and preserving natural resources while providing safe, reliable, and affordable electric and natural gas services," said Patrick Smith, Senior Vice President of Operations and Technical Services for Ameren Illinois.  Over 746 tons of poles were recycled in 2022. For more information, on this project, visit Ameren Illinois on their website.