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Bulletin 009 · recycling

Plastic pallet disposal: a recycling route for the pile

Last reviewed Nov 12, 20266 stages
The short answer

Plastic pallet disposal does not have to end in a landfill. Almost every plastic pallet is HDPE or PP, and both can be ground into regrind.

The routes are reuse, repair, regrind and an ownership check. Landfill is the last one on the list.

Clear the pile

A yard full of plastic pallets. Describe it and we say what we think the next step is.

How full is the trailer?
What resin are the pallets?
Sound or broken?
Photos of the stack and the trailer help. Email them to info@plasticpalletrecyclers.com after you send.
Load request

Request received

We read every request ourselves. We will come back with what we think happens to the load, and what we still need to see.

Nothing here is an offer or an acceptance. A load is accepted only after the pallets have been seen.
The loadBrokenregrindSoundreuseMixedblendPoolowner
Four bins. A load goes to the one that fits first and moves if the pallets say otherwise.

Count what you have

A load is a number and a footprint. Four hundred broken 48 x 40 pallets is a clear job. A stack of mixed sizes needs sorting first.

Rule out the ones that are not yours

A pool-marked pallet is not yours to dispose of. Remove those first and tell us about them. Calling the pool first avoids a dispute later.

Pick the least wasteful route

Sound pallets: reuse. Cracked but repairable: weld. Broken: regrind. Burnt: cut the burn out, then regrind. Everything else: tell us what it is.

Skip the landfill

EPA’s 2018 durable goods data shows 10.6 million of 57.1 million tons recycled (18.5 percent) and 37.4 million tons landfilled. It gives no pallet figure. A load that can be ground should be.

Why landfill is the last option

Plastic pallets last a long time in the ground and are made from a material that can be recycled. Landfill is the end of the line for a pallet nobody can use, reuse, repair or grind.

What counts as disposal here

Handing pallets to a processor, a moulder or a take-back programme. It does not mean a dumpster. The word is used because it is what people search for, and what they usually need is a better route.

Disposal routes ranked

RouteFitsCheck first
ReuseSound palletsDeck flat, runners whole
Weld and reuseCracked but repairableNot for racking or food contact
RegrindBroken, crushed, burntResin, colour, marks
Ownership checkAny marked palletPool name or RFID
LandfillNothing else worksAsk us first

What the sources say

  • en.wikipedia.orgPlastic pallets are often described as lasting 100 trips or more, and can cost roughly 10 times as much as hardwood pallets.
  • resource-recycling.comIn April 2017, HDPE HMW regrind from drums and IBCs was 24 to 27 cents per pound picked up in the US South (historical, not current).
  • en.wikipedia.orgPlastic pallets can deform (creep) under heavy long-term loads and are hard to repair.
  • en.wikipedia.orgSteel, aluminum, plastic and engineered-wood pallets are exempt from ISPM 15; wood must reach a core temperature of 56 C for at least 30 minutes for heat treatment.
  • cabka.comCabka says plastic export pallets are exempt from ISPM-15 treatment, that there is no single export size, and that its nestable export designs include extra-lightweight and air-freight versions.
  • nelsoncompany.comHDPE is the most common resin in plastic pallets; PP is more rigid and the page recommends it for unsupported racking.
  • eponline.comIn December 2011 a Los Angeles County Sheriff task force recovered over $250,000 of illegally obtained plastic pallets, including iGPS pallets, from a plastic recycler.
  • nelsoncompany.comFor products touching the pallet directly, stricter federal requirements may call for non-blended virgin HDPE; recycled pallets often meet general FDA needs.
  • rehrigpacific.comRehrig Pacific says its reusable products are designed to be recyclable at end of life and run a buyback program.
  • rehrigpacific.comRehrig Pacific's rackable pallet has a two-piece snap-lock design for quick repair and options for FDA-approved colours, RFID and up to 15 percent black recycled content.
  • nelsoncompany.comA used Nelson 48 x 40 x 6.3 in HDPE one-piece pallet weighs 49 lb with 30,000 lb static, 5,000 lb dynamic and 2,200 lb racking ratings.
  • en.wikipedia.orgPlastic pallets weigh about 3 to 15 lb when light and up to 300 lb when heavy; a typical GMA wood pallet weighs about 37 lb.
  • resource-recycling.comGreystone Logistics processed about 60 million pounds of recycled plastic in the year ended May 31, 2024, using damaged plastic pallets from a buy-back program among its feedstock.
  • blog.containerexchanger.comNorth American plastic pallets in the common sizes are about 5 to 6 in tall.

Terms on this page

HDPE
High-density polyethylene, resin code 2. The most common resin in plastic pallets; tough and moisture resistant.
PP
Polypropylene. More rigid than HDPE and better with heat and harsh chemicals; used where rack stiffness matters.
Regrind
Plastic ground from used or scrap parts into flakes for moulding again.
Reuse cycle
One trip out with a load and back again. Some pallets are rated for a number of them.
Ownership check
Our first step with any pallet that carries a name, logo, tag or colour that suggests another owner.
Footprint
The length and width of a pallet’s deck, for example 48 x 40 inches.
Pooled pallet
A pallet owned by a rental pool and lent to users, who are expected to return it, not scrap it.
Pooling
Renting pallets from a company that owns, tracks and collects them instead of buying.
Welding repair
Plastic is hard to glue, so cracked parts are normally welded.
Moulder
A manufacturer that melts regrind or pellets and forms them into parts, such as pallets.
Deck
The flat surface that carries the load. A pallet may have a top deck, a bottom deck or both.
Runners
Bottom rails that touch the floor or rack and carry the load.
Rackable
Rated to sit on rack beams, with a stated racking load.
Racking load
Weight a pallet carries bridging an open span in unsupported racking. Often the lowest rating.

Questions people ask

Is there a fee for disposal?

We cannot state any terms before seeing the load.

Can I put plastic pallets in a skip?

You can, but it throws away feedstock that could be ground.

Do you handle hazardous residue?

No. Say if pallets were used with chemicals, and we say whether the load can go any further.

Does disposal cost money?

We state no price. A load can be a cost or a source of value, depending on what it is.

Can I get a certificate of recycling?

We make no promise of one. Ask the processor you are routed to what documentation they issue.

Keep reading

Sources, reviewed Nov 12, 2026: EPA, durable goods data; Pallet Enterprise, Quebec ruling on CHEP pallets; Association of Plastic Recyclers.

Cracked, retired or mixed?

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