Wooden Pallets

Wooden pallets can be reduced to wood chips and reused. The wood chips from recycled pallets can be used to cover the surface of a playground, as landscape mulch, animal bedding, compost or other uses. 

In 2005, North Carolina enacted House Bill 1465, which bans the disposal of wooden pallets in municipal solid waste landfills by Oct. 1, 2009. Pallets may be sent to construction and demolition landfills if they are generated as construction and demolition (C&D) waste as defined by the N.C. Solid Waste Management Rule 15A NCAC 13B .0532. Pallets from an industry other than construction of homes and buildings would not be allowed in any landfill.

The legislation recognizes that pallets can be managed in many different ways to avoid disposal, including reducing or eliminating the usage of pallets, reusing/repairing and recycling. The links below provide specific guidance on managing pallets.

Wooden Pallet Recycling Resources

• Local Government Toolkit
• Case Studies
• Local Government Example Flier
• Pallet Recycler Toolkit
• Businesses Generating Pallets Toolkit
• Small Generator Tips
• Wooden Pallet Recycling Loop Poster
• Additional Resources