How to Recycle Wood Pallets

Stack of recycled wood pallets

If you have large items delivered to your home or place of business, you can end up with wood pallets left over. Here are some ways to recycle them and keep them out of the waste stream.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. There is no need for bulky wood pallets to be disposed of in landfills. They are generally constructed of the unattractive leftover wood that is not suited for building or furniture construction. In that way they are environmentally friendly, since they are made of potential waste wood. Why not keep them that way by continuing their lifespan?

2. Wood pallets can be used many times over

   The first thing to do if you get deliveries on pallets is to ask if the company will pick up the leftover wood pallets. Many companies will do so, since it saves them from having to buy new ones. If you do a lot of business with the company, you may consider asking them to provide this service to you in the future.

3. There are companies that will buy used wood pallets from you, or at least take them off your hands for free. Go to the North American Pallet Recycling Network at www.palletbuyersguide.com (link below). This company covers the USA and Canada. You can check a list of pallet recycling companies by state or province to see if any are near you and what services they offer.

4. 

   IFCO.com is the largest wood pallet management and recycling company in the US. If you operate a commercial business that utilizes wood pallets, you may be able to save money by using their services. Check the link below for IFCO pallet recycling centers around the country.

5. Check Palletpages.com. This is a directory of wood pallet manufacturers around the US that is searchable by zip code. You can get company names, locations and contact information. The site also describes company services available such as pallet repair and return. If a company is near your location they may be willing to take your pallets for re-use.

6. 

   If you just have one or two pallets you need to get rid of, take them to your local Home depot or any other big box store. They usually have stacks of pallets in back. If the pallets are serviceable, just put them on the stack and they'll be recycled for re-use. Nobody will give you any grief, just say you had a delivery and are returning them.

7. As a last resort, you can advertise the pallets for free on Craigslist, Freecycle or your local Yahoo group. Indicate that they can be used for crafters or woodworkers. Often pallets are made of oak or hardwood which can be expensive to buy. You'll be surprised how fast they disappear using this approach.

   Any method you use to recycle wood pallets helps to save trees from being cut down and keeps a large item out of a landfill. Thanks.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your local government's recycling policy, they may accept whole or broken pallets as yard waste for chipping or wood recycling.

• Recycle.net has listings of wood pallet recyclers in the US and Canada (link below).

• If you are handy, you can use the wood yourself to construct a compost bin, birdhouses, etc.

• If you use the wood as firewood, it is recommended to burn it outdoors in case it has been treated.

Resources

• North American Pallet Recycling Network
• IFCO Pallet Recycling locations
• Palletpages.com
• Recycle.net Pallet recyclers list
• ehow Going Green Guide