Plastic Pallets have become an integral part of the supply chain filling the gap where wood pallets may be unsuitable, making Plastic Pallet Recycling a critical link in the supply chain. Custom plastic pallets can be made to handle unusual shapes like bottles, kegs, drums and even engines / transmissions sent to assembly plants from factories on other continents.
Yes – Plastic pallets can be recycled here in the United States
Freight and labor are the largest cost factors – loads are light so freight per pound is a significant factor to consider.
They are recyclable in all areas – in truckload quantities!
No – there are some types that are not suitable for recycling such as iGPS, A-B Inbev & Coors pallets which have fiberglass reinforcement rods inside that can tear up a shredder. White EPS (Styrofoam) pallets are not recyclable. Lastly, USPS Postal Pallets aren’t recyclable – they need to go back to the local postmaster
All plastic pallets without metal or fiberglass reinforcement can be recycled.
It requires a significant amount of labor to sort/stack pallets properly and a lot of space to save up enough for a full 53’ Semi Trailer.
It’s straight forward however not lucrative – most people recycle plastic pallets because they need to get rid of them and disposing in a landfill is not a viable option.
No – there are no regulations, however the guidelines are: Uniform Stacks, No Metal, No Postal, Full Truckload
Reusing them is the ideal alternative – however landfilling is the only other disposal option.
Cleaning is NOT required Simply stack them up in uniform stacks nesting like pallets together and keeping the “unacceptable pallets” separate.
Scrap Management Inc specializes in recycling plastic pallets.
The regrind from recycling plastic pallets can be used in any many applications, including automotive and packaging like new pallets.
Pallets made from recycled content are usually of comparable quality and durability as pallets made from virgin resin.
The size is mostly irrelevant – all sizes of pallets can be recycled.
Safety is always a concern – that’s why we ask companies to band down the pallets making sure the stacks do not tip over injuring employees when trailer doors are opened.
First, it reduces the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills. Plastic pallets can take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill, so recycling them can help to decrease the amount of plastic waste that is taking up space in landfills.
Second, recycling plastic pallets can conserve natural resources. Plastic pallets are typically made from petroleum-based products, so recycling them can help to reduce the demand for these resources.
Third, recycling plastic pallets can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Plastic production and disposal both contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, so recycling plastic pallets can help to reduce these emissions.
Fourth, recycling plastic pallets can save energy. It takes less energy to recycle plastic than to produce new plastic from raw materials.
Plastic pallets have a long useful life however eventually break and wear down. We’ve built out a national network of re-processors that will size reduce the pallets into regrind so they can be converted into new products or reprocessed pellets.
This article was written by Igor Beylin, founder and CEO of Scrap Management Inc. He can be reached at ib@scrapmanagement.com.
