Are telegraph poles hazardous?

[iMCaan]

Hi

 

Quick Google search states "yes, telegraph poles are considered hazardous waste in the UK and must be disposed of by a licensed waste handler."

However, many telegraph poles are scattered around on the public footpaths still in service. There's one pole in the corner of our boundary wall, where the driveway/gate would be. 

Probably, some government organisation out there think telegraph poles are non-hazardous.

 

I was considering buying reclaimed telegraph poles on Facebook marketplace. There are many sellers on there. My intentions are to use the telegraph poles as garden fence posts.

 

Probably, the hazardous rating drops as they are outside?

 

Are telegraph poles hazardous and can they be used as a garden fence post?

 

Thanks

 

 

[Russell griffiths]

Depends what you want them for, we use them as strainer posts on wire fencing. 
but you cannot use them near a watercourse, it’s the coal tar treatment they are soaked in. 
 

I would not use them to build raised garden beds or a garden pond or anything kids climb on, but banging it in the ground in the corner of a field, you won’t get hanged for it. 

[joe90]

1 hour ago, iMCaan said:

Are telegraph poles hazardous

Only if you lick them 🤣seriously tho as you say they are out there in public but I would not use them in my garden with young children about.

[JohnMo]

Possibly full of nasty chemicals to stop them quickly rotting away once installed. Hence being hazardous waste.

[iMCaan]

Thank you. 

 

I was thinking about a front and rear garden walls as well as retaining wall for a patio.

Considering the above comments, I think it's a no go.

 

thanks

Edited September 24, 2024 by iMCaan

[Iceverge]

My only concern would be the offgassing of the coal tar in sunny weather. 

 

The sweet sweet smell of tar might not be pleasant on your patio if you were enjoying a salad. 

 

If that's not a problem and they're in a well ventilated environment then I wouldn't be too worried. The country is full of these poles and people aren't collapsing left right and centre. 

 

 

[SteamyTea]

I think the problem is disposal of them, rather than the normal usage of existing ones.

They cannot be burned easily and they cannot be buried (no point, they don't degrade).

[Iceverge]

If anyone has some I'd be happy to help disposed of them at a nominal fee......

 

 

(They make excellent farm gate posts)

[Gone West]

At our previous house the farmers took all the old electricity poles when the whole area was upgraded.