Pallet Recycling
Give used pallets another life. We connect San Diego County businesses with partner suppliers who reuse, repair, and recycle pallets.
Start Recycling Your Pallets
Tell us about your pallet volume and condition, and we will pass your request to a partner supplier in our network who handles recycling.
How Pallet Recycling Works, Step by Step
SD Re Pallet does not run a recycling yard. We connect you with partner suppliers in our network who do. The steps below describe how pallet recyclers typically handle used pallets, so you know what to expect when you send a request.
Collection
Partner suppliers collect used pallets from businesses throughout San Diego County. Pallet removal is available through partner suppliers, from your dock, yard, or warehouse. Businesses with steady pallet volume can ask about recurring pickups, and some recyclers also accept drop-offs.
Sorting and Inspection
Recyclers inspect incoming pallets for broken stringers, cracked or rotten deck boards, and overall dimensions. Pallets are typically sorted into three groups: pallets that can go straight back into service, pallets that need repair, and pallets that have reached end of life and will be dismantled for parts or ground into mulch.
Repair and Reconditioning
Pallets that need work go through pallet repair, where broken deck boards are replaced, damaged stringers are reinforced or swapped, and loose connections are re-nailed so the pallet can go back into service.
Grading and Stacking
Reusable pallets are then graded, commonly as Grade A, B, or C based on condition, and stacked by size and grade so they are ready for resale.
Redistribution
Recycled pallets re-enter the supply chain when other businesses buy recycled pallets for domestic shipping, warehouse storage, and distribution. The pallets you send for recycling can become the pallets another business uses to ship its products.
What Happens to Damaged Pallets
Not every pallet can be repaired and put back into shipping service. Pallets with extensive rot, multiple broken stringers, or significant structural compromise have reached the end of their life as shipping platforms. Even so, much of their wood can still be put to use.
Pallets that cannot be repaired are usually dismantled. Boards that are still structurally sound become replacement parts for repairing other pallets. Shorter or narrower usable pieces become blocking, dunnage, or raw material for custom pallet manufacturing.
Wood that is too damaged for any reuse is ground into mulch and wood chips. This biomass is used for landscaping mulch, animal bedding, and playground surfacing. In some cases, ground wood is used as fuel for biomass energy generation. Recycling this way keeps a large share of pallet wood out of the landfill.
Boards with character from aging and wear can also be sold as reclaimed wood products, where they find new life as furniture, wall paneling, and decorative items.
Environmental Benefits
Landfill Diversion
Wood pallets are a common item in commercial waste. Recycling them instead of throwing them away keeps that wood out of the landfill and helps conserve landfill capacity.
Carbon Sequestration
Wood stores carbon. When pallets are recycled and kept in use, the carbon remains locked in the wood rather than being released through decomposition. Keeping a pallet in use longer keeps that carbon stored longer.
Reduced Logging
Every recycled pallet that re-enters the supply chain is one fewer new pallet that needs to be manufactured from virgin lumber. This reduces demand for logging, preserves forests, and protects the biodiversity that depends on healthy forest ecosystems.
Energy Savings
Manufacturing a new pallet from raw lumber requires harvesting, transporting, milling, drying, and assembling wood. Reusing or repairing an existing pallet generally takes far less energy than building a new one.
Read our Sustainability Mission to learn more about why pallet reuse matters.
Where Recycled Pallet Material Goes
Pallet recyclers typically split incoming material into several streams. The mix depends on the condition of the pallets and on the recycler.
| Material Stream | Typical End Use |
|---|---|
| Whole pallets (reuse as-is) | Resale as graded recycled pallets |
| Repaired pallets | Resale after board or stringer repair |
| Salvaged lumber | Repair parts, custom builds, dunnage |
| Wood mulch / biomass | Landscaping, animal bedding, fuel |
| Reclaimed character wood | Furniture, wall paneling, art |
| Metal (nails, brackets) | Scrap metal recycling |
Standards and Regulations to Know
Pallet recycling in California touches on a few industry standards and regulations. Here is a short overview of the ones you are most likely to hear about when working with a recycler.
National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA)
The main U.S. trade association for the pallet industry, publishing guidance on pallet manufacturing, repair, and recycling.
ISPM-15
The international standard for treating wood packaging used in export shipments. Partner suppliers can supply ISPM-15 stamped pallets on request.
Local Permitting
Facilities that process wood waste are subject to local rules on stormwater, dust, and land use. Ask any recycler about their permits if this matters to your vendor review.
CalRecycle
California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery oversees state recycling programs, including organic and wood waste diversion.
Learn more about pallet grades, sizes, and treatment marks on our Pallet Standards page. If you need documentation for a sustainability audit or vendor qualification, mention it in your request and ask the partner supplier directly.
What Recyclers Typically Accept and Reject
Usually Accepted
- ✓Standard GMA 48x40 wood pallets (all conditions)
- ✓Non-standard and custom-size wood pallets
- ✓Stringer pallets and block pallets
- ✓Hardwood and softwood construction
- ✓Pallets with normal wear, dirt, staining, and weathering
- ✓Broken pallets with salvageable lumber
- ✓Heat-treated and stamped pallets
- ✓Pallet collars and wood packaging frames
- ✓Loose lumber, dunnage, and blocking material
- ✓Plastic pallets in repairable condition (some suppliers)
Usually Not Accepted
- ✕Pallets contaminated with hazardous chemicals
- ✕Pallets soaked with oil, solvents, or petroleum products
- ✕Wood exposed to biohazards or medical waste
- ✕Pallets treated with methyl bromide (MB stamp)
- ✕Pallets with heavy mold infestation throughout
- ✕Painted pallets with lead-based coatings
- ✕Metal or composite pallets (most recyclers handle wood only)
- ✕Pallets containing asbestos or regulated materials
Not sure if your pallets qualify? Describe them in your request, and include photos if you can. Each partner supplier makes its own call on what it accepts, and in borderline cases the supplier may want to see the material before agreeing to a pickup.
Recycling vs. Disposal: The Cost Comparison
Many businesses default to paying a waste hauler to remove pallets. Here is how that typically compares with recycling. Actual charges vary by hauler, supplier, and load. Pricing is by quote from partner suppliers.
| Cost Factor | Waste Hauler Disposal | Pallet Recycling |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup / hauling fee | Usually charged per load | May be free for reusable loads, depending on the supplier |
| Landfill tipping fee | Usually charged by weight | Usually none (wood is reused) |
| Value recovery | None (pallets are destroyed) | Possible payment for sellable pallets |
| Sustainability reporting | Rarely provided | Some recyclers provide counts or weight tickets |
For loads with reusable pallets, recycling can reduce or remove disposal costs and sometimes earns a payment. Heavily damaged or contaminated loads may still carry a fee, so it is worth describing your pallets accurately when you request a quote.
Small Loads to Steady Volume
Requests come from businesses of every size, from local retailers and small manufacturers to distribution centers. Tell us roughly how many pallets you have and how often they build up, and we will pass your request to a partner supplier suited to that volume.
Smaller loads are often handled as on-call pickups, and some recyclers accept drop-offs. Businesses with steady monthly volume can ask a partner supplier about scheduled pickups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pallets and wood products can be recycled?
Partner suppliers typically accept wood pallets, crates, and skids in most sizes. Usable pallets are reused or repaired; scrap wood is usually ground for mulch or fuel.
How do I request a recycling pickup?
Submit the form with your quantity, pallet condition, and general location. We pass your request to a partner supplier in our network, who will follow up to schedule pickup.
Is there a charge for recycling pickups?
It depends on the supplier and the load. Loads of reusable pallets may be picked up free or even earn a payment, while mixed or heavily broken loads can carry a haul-away fee.
Can a trailer be left on site for ongoing recycling?
Some partner suppliers offer drop trailers for sites with steady pallet volume. Mention it in your request and we will look for a supplier who can do this.
How are recycled pallets usually processed?
Recyclers typically sort pallets by condition, repair what can be reused, salvage usable boards, and grind the remaining wood into mulch or biomass fuel.
Can I get diversion reporting?
Some recyclers can provide pallet counts or weight tickets. If you need documentation for sustainability reporting, say so in your request so we can pass it on.
What about contaminated or wet pallets?
Light dirt is usually fine. Pallets with chemicals, food waste, or mold are assessed case by case by the supplier and may not be accepted or may carry extra fees.
Are plastic pallets accepted for recycling?
Some partner suppliers handle plastic pallets. Share the type and quantity, and photos if you can, so a supplier can confirm.
How fast can pickups happen?
Timing depends on the partner supplier and their routes. Mention any deadline in your request and a partner supplier will follow up about scheduling.
Can recycling be combined with buying pallets?
Yes, some suppliers handle both. Tell us you want to recycle old pallets and buy replacements, and we will try to match you with a supplier who does both.