Last year, Oncor recycled 31 million pounds of scrap metal. There were nearly 10 million pounds of wooden utility poles and over 1.3 million pounds of “waste wood.” Add to that things like batteries, electronics, cardboard, concrete, old tires, electric meters and more.

Oncor recycled over 14,000 old transformers in 2020 by sending them to a scrap metal dealer. Another 4,000 transformers were rebuilt and prepared for use in the field again.

Transformers are filled with a specialized mineral oil to keep the unit cool during times of high electricity usage and to extend their life. Before a transformer is recycled or rehabbed, the old oil is drained and tested for contaminants.

Oncor receives nearly 1 million gallons of used oil each year. About 20 percent of that oil is cleaned on-site at SOSF, a process that takes about a month for every 18,000 gallons of oil.

“This is a long-term, established commitment the company made 30 or 40 years ago,” Moore said. “We’re going to manage this material, we’re going to take care of our business, and we’re going to leave things in good shape.”