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End-of-life utility poles in Australia: Quantifying the resource and pathways for timber circularity
Conference paper   Open access   Peer reviewed

End-of-life utility poles in Australia: Quantifying the resource and pathways for timber circularity

Penelope Mitchell, Melanie L Harris, Martin Strandgard and Tripti Singh
Proceedings IRG Annual Meeting, pp.1-10
Annual Meeting of International Research Group on Wood Protection (IRG), 56th (Beijing, China, 25-May-2026–28-May-2026)
IRG Secretariate
2026
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IRG 26-50422_utility poles328.11 kBDownloadView
Published Version Open Access

Abstract

Timber engineering circular economy treated timber utility poles end-of-life management hardwood Australia
Australia’s electricity distribution networks rely heavily on timber utility poles, predominantly manufactured from durable hardwood species and treated to achieve long service lives. For the last 20 years, the treated softwood poles have become more common. While these poles provide strong environmental and economic performance during use, their end-of-life (EOL) management remains largely linear, with most treated poles disposed of in licensed landfills. This study quantifies the national scale of EOL timber utility poles in Australia and evaluates current management practices, regulatory constraints, and circular-economy opportunities. Using utility company surveys, sustainability reports, and industry consultations, we estimate that approximately 5.45 million timber poles are currently in service nationally. Between 70,000 and 85,000 poles are removed from service annually, equating to an average of 77,000 poles or approximately 69,000 m³ (54,000 t) of mainly hardwood entering the waste stream each year. Despite the high material quality and residual structural integrity of many poles, reuse and recycling remain limited due to preservative treatments, embedded metal contamination, transport distances, and regulatory barriers. This paper provides the first consolidated national assessment of EOL timber utility poles in Australia and demonstrates that even partial diversion from landfill could deliver substantial environmental and economic benefits. The findings support the development of targeted circular pathways, including resawing, encapsulated products, engineered wood applications, and decentralised processing, aligned with Australia’s national circular economy objectives.

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