LPB Poles Inc. surpassed the normal role of a company producing wood utility poles. The Masson-Angers, Quebec company recognized the value of looking at the complete life-cycle of its products. As a result, it explored new uses for wood utility poles that have completed their service life.

This exploration incorporated two aspects: recycling and waste management. In addition to producing lumber, timbers and cross-ties from decommissioned utility poles. LPB proved the viability of a stress-log bridge made from recycled material. In terms of waste management, the company joined an industrial consortium to study the feasibility of using treated wood waste as fuel in a cement manufacturing plant. This article looks at how industry as well as the environment can benefit from such ventures.

Cost-Effective, Environmentally Friendly Stressed-Log Bridges

Following up on the success of the stress-laminated wood deck of the 1970s, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, in cooperation with LPB Poles, designed the stressed-log bridge (SLB). Poles were slabbed on two sides and strapped together with advance composite materials, which include tendons of fibre-reinforced plastic and steel anchors. The result was minimal stress loss and an extremely low-maintenance bridge.

Incorporating recycled wood utility poles, the SLB is an attractive alternative to traditional wood deck systems for a number of reasons.

Its ability to incorporate recycled treated wood is a unique environmental benefit. And the SLB can be constructed more cost-effectively than most existing systems for wood and non-renewable materials. Its 60-year life expectancy compares favourably with steel and concrete designs but at a significantly lower cost.

The SLB is arguably the most adaptable bridge design in existence. Able to be surfaced with concrete, asphalt, gravel or earth, the bridge can be used for pedestrians in parks or for forestry roads where is easily accommodates fully loaded 90-tonne logging trucks.

The SLB design was a result of a unique partnership between the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and industry.

Treated Wood Waste as Cement-Kiln Fuel

In 1996, LPB became a key player in an award-winning collaboration between members of industry and education. At the 1996 University-Industry Synergy R&D Partnership Awards, the group won the category involving at least two industry partners.

The awards recognize best practices in university-industry collaboration - partnerships that can serve as effective models for other joint ventures in commercialization and wealth creation.

An initiative spearheaded by cement producer Ciment St-Laurent and Bell Canada (then owner of LPB Poles) brought several companies together, including Bell Canada, CN Rail, CP Rail, Ciment St-Laurent and LPB Poles. Having been assured of Environment Canada's participation in the project, the industrial consortium teamed up with the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM). Together, they carried out scientific and environmental surveys, reported their results and developed an integrated waste management program.

Industry partners agreed to deliver their used wood products to LPB Poles. The company would then reclaim recyclable wood in their sawmill operation. Ciment St-Laurent would receive treated waste materials that could not be recycled for other uses.

Cement kilns currently burn a mixture of coal, waste oil and used tires as fuel. Part of the waste management research was to determine if waste-wood products could be added to the mix. Research to date has shown that it is possible to successfully monitor and manage the flow of emissions from a sawmill, including treated wood waste. Ongoing studies will improve the process, enhancing management of the waste stream in the most effective manner.

UQAM environmental engineering professor Robert Hausler concludes, "The wood industry plays a critical role in the Canadian economy. This project has brought together partners committed to making the most effective use of this renewable resource, while safeguarding the Canadian environment. In that sense, the big winner in the project is Canada."