apple tree trimmings

Hi, my husband gave our very unruley apple tree a trim last weekend.  It has left us with an enormous pile of apple sticks, most are very spindly but very long, about 2 or 3 mts. Can use them in the garden? I am thinking they are a bit spindly to grow beans up as they would bend, but might they toughen up as they dry out?
Any ideas what else I would use them for??

Or do I need to just get rid of them.?