Although pallets are essential for warehouse management, some businesses struggle with regularly disposing of them. Pallets can accumulate in storage rooms or outdoors, presenting an occupational hazard and a waste of valuable space. Here are four methods for recycling pallets and clearing out the back room once and for all.
Contact the shipper
One of the easiest strategies for disposal is to contact the shipper to pick up empty pallets. If you can’t contact the shipper directly, you can arrange for pallet disposal with a third-party company such as CHEP or PECO. Pallet retrieval is a mutually beneficial arrangement since it clears unwanted pallets from your shipping deck while lowering the cost per trip for shippers.
Find a local recycling company
You may be able to find a local recycling company who is willing to come and retrieve your used pallets. Depending on the size and condition of pallets, a local recycling company can either pay you for desirable pallets or charge a fee for picking up undesirable ones. A benefit of a local company is that they can usually schedule regular removals that save your business the time of finding a new disposal service.
Reach out to hobbyists
Hobbyists interested in clean and unweathered wooden pallets for craft projects are often willing to take unwanted pallets away for free, but there are a few legal and health risks to consider. If a member of the public is wandering around your warehouse, you will need an employee to provide oversight and hopefully prevent any accidents. If someone is injured while on your premises or as a result of your pallet, you may find yourself tangled in legal difficulties. Managers should carefully weigh the costs and benefits of reaching out to hobbyists.
Prevention
One method of solving the logistics of wooden pallet disposal is switching to a more durable material. Heavy duty wooden or plastic pallets require less maintenance and repairs and can still be recycled when needed. Corrugated paper pallets can be recycled with other cardboard materials and are easier to dispose of than their wooden counterparts. Large companies such as IKEA have recently replaced their wooden pallets with corrugated paper, eliminating a significant logistics problem.
KION North America’s line of Linde and Baoli forklifts can help your warehouse manage inventory more efficiently. Visit our website or contact us at (843) 875-8000 for personalized service and more information about our products.
