Of all the industries we serve at Rotochopper Inc., one of the largest is the pallet industry. For over 30 years, we’ve set the standard for pallet recycling operations looking to turn wood waste into profitable secondary products. However, before wooden pallets can be processed into mulch, animal bedding, fiber fuel, or the like, they serve an important role in the transportation of goods across the world.
The Life Cycle of Wooden Pallets
Growth and Harvesting
Wood pallets, of course, start out as trees. Most of the lumber used to make pallets comes from tree farms, allowing them to be harvested without endangering our natural resources. Oak and pine are common choices for pallets, but other varieties, including maple, spruce, and cedar, are also used. After they’ve grown to a suitable size, the trees are logged and sent to sawmills, where they become lumber.
Trimming
When pallet manufacturers receive the pallet cants, they are cut to the right length and width, then into deck boards and stringers. Typically, the manufacturer will also cut notches into the stringers, allowing forklifts and pallet jacks to enter and lift the pallets.
Assembly
Before assembly, the wood may be heat treated to protect the pallets from pests, weather, or other things that could cause decay. Then, the pieces are nailed together by hand or machine, and the pallet is ready to be distributed.
Repair
Over the course of the pallet’s service, it’s important for workers to keep an eye out for signs of damage and repair it when possible. New wooden pallets have an average life cycle of about three years, but that can be shortened or extended depending on the care. The life span of a recycled wood pallet is usually shorter, as they don’t have the same level of durability and strength.
Recycling
Once the pallet is no longer repairable, it’s stripped for boards that are still usable or recycled—that’s where we come in. For companies that produce a lot of pallet waste, Rotochopper horizontal grinding equipment provides the opportunity to turn that waste into profit.
With the right equipment, there are a wide variety of secondary products you can produce from pallet waste, including:
- Colored mulch
- Playground chips
- Compost additive
- Boiler fuel
- Biomass feedstock
- Animal bedding
- Wood flour or pulp
The equipment specifics will depend on your business goals, as well as the product you’re looking to produce, but rest assured, Rotochopper can help you find the grinding solutions you need. To learn how you can start a secondary revenue stream for your operation, contact a Rotochopper sales representative today.
FAQs
New wooden pallets have an average life cycle of about three years, but that can be shortened or extended depending on the care. The life span of a recycled wood pallet is usually shorter, as they don't have the same level of durability and strength.
What is the life cycle of a wooden pallet? ›
The Lifecycle
It is thought that the average lifecycle of a new wooden pallet is around three years, but this accounts for a number of repairs being needed along the way.
How long does a wooden pallet last? ›
They are usually made from pine and oak wood and can carry up to around 2 tonnes. The weight of pallets can vary from 12kg to 25kg, and the average wood pallet usually has a lifespan of between three and seven years.
What is the code for wooden pallets? ›
HS Code of WOODEN-PALLET used in Trade Shipment Data
| HS Code | Product Description | Export Data |
|---|
| 44152000 | Pallets, box pallets and other load boards; pallet collars | View Export Data |
| 40025900 | Other | View Export Data |
| 70200090 | Other | View Export Data |
The life cycle of a wood product begins with the germination of a tree seed, and continues through the growth and harvest of the tree and the manufacture and use of the product. Consideration of forest ecosystems is essential to accurately understand the eco-efficiency of wood product use.
What is the lifespan of a pallet? ›
Curious to know what the lifespan of a wooden pallet is? On average, the usual timeframe for a wooden pallet is between 3 and 5 years.
What is the process of making wooden pallets? ›
The wood used to produce a wooden pallet is cut down to size at the local sawmill. Here, they are trimmed down to the appropriate length and cut into separate boards. An automatic saw cuts notches at the appropriate position to enable a forklift to pick up the pallet from any angle required.
What pallets to avoid? ›
Pallets with an MB stamp have been treated with a highly toxic pesticide which can be necessary in certain regions of the world where there are pests that can't be eliminated by heat treatments.
Does pallet wood decompose? ›
In the short-term, most wooden pallets can withstand weather conditions like rain and sun exposure. However, if pallets are stored outdoors for long periods of time, the wood will rot. To prevent pallets from rotting, you should: Keep pallets off the ground.
What is the end of life for pallets? ›
Where a wooden pallet cannot be repaired to meet the rigorous quality specifications expected of an LPR customer, it is recycled. LPR recycles 100% of its end of lifecycle pallets, with processed wood becoming bio mass pellets for heating systems, pet bedding, and other materials.
If your pallet has been painted or stained in a bright colour this usually means it belongs to a pallet rental company. The colour and code on each of these pallets will tell you which rental company they belong to, here are the four most common ones: Red pallets: pool LPR (La Palette Rouge from Europe)
What does blue paint on pallets mean? ›
CHEP pallets are very easy to identify. They are painted blue and have the corporate logo marked on them or have “Property of CHEP” or “Owned by CHEP” labelled on them to make them unmistakable in the market.
What are the OSHA rules for pallets? ›
Pallets must be positioned in a stable manner to avoid collapse or sliding when stacking goods on it. Avoid keeping stacked pallets in high traffic areas. Stack pallets up to 15 feet high, however, this will depend on the type of goods you stored on them. Do not stack products only on one side of the pallet.
What is the lifespan of wood? ›
In a fully protected environment (indoors, free from moisture and protected from insect attack) most woods will last 50+ years; However, when used outdoors in above and in-ground settings, a timber's natural durability rating can provide an indication of its expected lifespan.
Can wood last 2000 years? ›
It is the world's oldest surviving wooden structure. Horyuji was constructed from Japanese cypress that were roughly 2,000 years old. It has been 1,300 years since the cypress were cut down, and the wood still stands firm.
How old is the oldest wood? ›
The earliest known example of modified wood is a polished plank from Israel dating to around 780,000 years ago. Wooden tools don't appear in the historical record until about 400,000 years ago. Before this new study, the earliest known example of a wooden structure was much more recent: around 9000 B.C.
How can you tell if a wooden pallet is rotten? ›
Check the wood for evidence of splitting. If splitting is evident and areas of the wood are flaking off easily, it is a clear sign that mould is inside and the wood is rotting. Pallets in this condition are most definitely unsafe for re-usage purposes.
Can mold grow on wood pallets? ›
First, many pallets are constructed using green or wet wood. The wood will eventually dry below 20 percent MC, but mold fungi can grow into and sporulate on the pallet while this process occurs.
