Bulletin 197 · styles

Recycling export and one-way plastic pallets: resin, ratings and the ownership check

Last reviewed Nov 12, 20269 stages

The short answer

Export or one-way pallets are recycled like any HDPE or PP pallet: sorted, ground into regrind and moulded again. Used where the pallet is not expected back. Plastic is ISPM 15 exempt.

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The resin code in the pallet decides which stream it joins. Check the mark on the underside.

Export and one-way: what it is

Used where the pallet is not expected back. Plastic is ISPM 15 exempt.

How it recycles

Export pallets are not expected back. Plastic is ISPM 15 exempt, so they travel without heat treatment marks. Nelson describes advanced composite pallets of 100 percent recycled polyolefins as cheaper with a shorter life, and suited to export.

Sold as a pallet, or ground?

One-way pallets are made to be let go. Their resale value is low, and a recycler is the natural end.

Whose is it?

They are usually bought outright, so ownership is rarely a question.

One-way by design

Export pallets are made to be left at the destination. They are light, simple and low cost. The sources describe advanced composite versions of recycled polyolefins as cheaper with a shorter life.

No heat treatment needed

Plastic pallets are exempt from ISPM 15, the standard that requires wood to be heat treated or fumigated. That is why plastic suits export, and why no mark is needed on one.

Where they end up

A pallet shipped one way often ends at a recycler abroad. If one comes back to you, it is an odd case. Describe it carefully.

Questions for a seller or buyer

Was the pallet made as a one-way pallet, or is it a multi-trip pallet that was exported? Is it composite or a single resin? Is there any print or label on it? A one-way pallet that returns is unusual and worth a photograph.

Why one-way pallets turn up in the retired stream

A pallet made for one trip is not built to be returned, so it arrives at its destination and stays there. A warehouse that receives imports can end up with a pile of them, in a mix of sizes and resins, with no maker history. That is the usual starting point for a mixed lot, and the sort that follows is mostly by resin and by size.

Export and one-way: example specs

Example models from public maker pages; check the model you hold.
Spec	Example
Material example	Advanced composite material: 100% recycled polyolefins
Trade-off	Lower price, shorter lifespan
Rack rating	Nestable and lighter export designs generally not rated for racking

What the sources say

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.
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.
phsinc.comPHS Plastic lists 19 nestable 48 x 40 and other-footprint models with dynamic ratings from 1,102 to 3,500 lb and static ratings from 2,204 to 15,000 lb, so 'nestable' spans light export pallets to heavy-duty stackers.
nelsoncompany.comA Nelson 48 x 40 x 4.8 in nestable, stackable, rackable polypropylene pallet weighs 18.0 lb with ratings of 10,500 lb static, 3,100 lb dynamic and 2,700 lb racking, and is listed as ISPM 15 exempt.
iccsafe.orgThe International Fire Code permits pallets listed and labeled under FM 4996 or UL 2335 to be treated as wood pallets for sprinkler design.
palletenterprise.comIn 2011 a Quebec court ruled that CHEP's identified blue pallets belong to CHEP and cannot be sold.
nelsoncompany.comThat used pallet is listed as pharma and food safe but not approved for direct food contact, in colours that vary.
rehrigpacific.comRehrig Pacific says its reusable products are designed to be recyclable at end of life and run a buyback program.
aphis.usda.govWood packaging material entering the US must be treated and certified per ISPM 15.
en.wikipedia.orgResin identification codes do not indicate whether a product is recyclable; ASTM D7611 governs the coding.
nelsoncompany.comStatic capacity is the highest of the three ratings; racking is often the lowest; dynamic is always lower than static.
en.wikipedia.orgNFPA requires wood and plastic pallets to be stored outdoors or in a detached structure unless sprinklers protect them.
iccsafe.orgA 2010 insurer figure cited by ICC puts fire spread to a pallet above at about 18 minutes for plastic versus nearly 50 for wood.
aphis.usda.govUSDA APHIS lists plastic pallets among products not subject to APHIS regulation, as an alternative to wood packaging material.