Local company keeping thousands of tonnes of wood out of landfills
Dan McRae, farmer and businessman in Killam, has embarked on an endeavour that will ultimately keep thousands of tonnes of used power poles from ending up in a landfill.
In 2015, building on an idea, McRae contacted Fortis Alberta to discuss the possibilities or repurposing old power poles.
At the time, Fortis Alberta was paying to haul the used poles to a landfill along with disposal fees.
“We thought maybe we could contract with them to take the poles, and see if we could do anything,” he says.
Once he thought about it, McRae says he just couldn’t get past the waste of these poles being buried in a landfill when there is so much that can be done with them. He’s taken on the challenge of finding as many uses for the repurposed poles as possible.
Once that creosote is cut off, what’s left is perfectly good red and yellow cedar, fir, and other woods that can be cut to 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, and used for a variety of projects, from timber construction to furniture making.
For the poles with other preservatives, the wood can be milled and used for any outside residential or agricultural project, like retaining walls, decks, siding for sheds, fencing, and can even be turned to mulch.
McRae says in the past year he’s learned everything he can about preservatives used to treat the poles. Because of the nature of the business, he’s also worked with Alberta Environment, and says during a recent inspection he was told his set up is far exceeding safe handling guidelines set by the province. “They recommend that the poles be stored on a thin layer of sawdust, and we sit them on triple-layered wood matting, with six inches of solid wood between them and the ground.” McRae says the inspector even asked him what regulations he had used for his setup, and he said, “We used yours, but went better.”
Fortis has an environmental department that also checks up on him, he says, “They are checking out the entire organization.”
The project hasn’t been cheap, McRae has invested in saws, wages, and transportation, but he believes strongly in what he is doing.
“Once you’ve seen the finished project, you can’t even imagine these poles as just waste.”
His family is behind him 100 per cent, and are lending their expertise, too, he says.
He knows of a similar project that ran in the middle of Surrey, BC, for 16 years before it was taken over by BC Hydro.
He’s been in contact with the private contractor who started that program, and has hired him as a consultant on some matters.
“That project ran in the middle of Surrey, met all of the environmental requirements, and there were no environmental issues at all.
“That contractor says his clients strongly supported the repurposing of this wood.”
McRae must do soil tests yearly for creosote and other preservatives. His saw is equipped with a vacuum that captures all the sawdust, which he has stored in a sea-can until he finds out what he can use it for, or how he can safely dispose of it.
One of the other things that has him fired up about the project is seeing the age of the trees, and the poles. He’s counted 195 yearly growth rings on some of the smaller poles, and up around 300 years on some of the larger ones. “Don’t forget, some of those poles have also been in the ground for 70 years. These are from trees that were seedlings in the 1700s.”
McRae hasn’t even gone as far as naming his new company yet, he says he has an idea for a name, but he’s keeping that close for the moment.
He’s looking at establishing markets across Canada, and is thinking about attending trade shows when the time is right.
“We’re helping the environment by recycling these poles. This way, only a small percent of this wood will go to the landfill; we are reusing this beautiful wood.”
McRae, too, is proud to be starting the business in Killam, “I’m trying to bring business to the town, and provide employment opportunities, too.”
He says he has already been getting orders from people around the county who have heard about what he’s doing.
McRae says right now his focus is on finding markets for the wood. One local cabinetmaker has been trying to help, Bill Pederson of Pederson Cabinetworks in Killam is very excited about the product. “It appeals to me in two ways. I’m glad this wood isn’t going to waste, isn’t going into a landfill, and I’m also excited to support a new local venture.”
Pederson has already used the wood in a few of his projects, and is excited about the possibilities. “I get to support local business 100 per cent. Why waste such perfectly good wood? It’s beautiful, stable, dry, and easy to work with.
“We need more industry in our area, and local support for that industry.”
Pederson says for him, when looking at the larger pieces of wood, like for fireplace mantles, McRae offers him better pricing than his regular suppliers, who would bring the wood from the USA.
“It’s a great product, and I have no issues with using it at all.”
Even the cleat marks, from decades of power company employees going up and down the poles, actually end up adding character to the wood pieces, and Pederson can enhance those and really bring out the beauty of the wood.
“I like the finished product. It’s cheaper [than US wood], and I can go and pick out the specific pieces and wood that I want.”
Pederson adds, “The rustic look is very prized right now, and I have a lot more options with a local supplier.”
It will ultimately end up in McRae’s foyer, and he says plans for the next bench, this time for his showroom, are already in the works.
Across the world today, recycling programs for used power poles are winning recognition for innovation and sustainability.
Full story originally published in the 2016 Fall Supplement – available via E-Subscription now from the September 27 edition.
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor
