Giving Wooden Pallets Another Life: A Closed-Loop Solution to Pallet Recycling
Every year, around 20 million pallets are used across the UK. It used to be that these were then skipped or scrapped after just one use. There is now an increasing drive to adopt more environmentally responsible practices and reduce the impact of pallets.
Manufacturing new wooden pallets requires cutting down trees whenever new timber is needed, which has a knock-on effect on the vital carbon sequestration that trees perform. To combat the harvesting of natural resources, pallets are being reused.
Due to their material, pallets can either be recycled or reused, depending on their condition after use. Most of the wood used to make pallets is similar in quality to the lumber used to make furniture and other durable items. As a result, pallets can often be reused multiple times over in their intended form, with only minor refurbishment where necessary.
Non-reusable pallets that are past their prime can be recycled. One way that old pallets can be repurposed is as mulch in landscaping and gardening. This method is just as beneficial as reusing them, as it keeps bulky waste out of landfill, where it would otherwise be taking up space and potentially creating hazardous conditions. This means that even pallets that are beyond repair can still be useful!
By extending the lifecycle of pallets through either repair or recycling, we can significantly reduce the demand for virgin wood. It also helps to lower carbon emissions associated with the entire process including such as logging, manufacturing and transportation.
Reconomy Connect is committed to providing closed-loop recycling solutions for niche recyclables, which includes our reliable and sustainable pallet collection service nationwide. We work with a number of businesses across multiple sectors to support them in their goals of becoming more sustainable.
Our service operates through an online portal, where scheduled collections of unused and unwanted pallets can be booked. Our fleet of rigid vehicles or artics arrive on your site to pick up the pallets, where they will go to be processed at our facility. Pallets are inspected, sorted, and either refurbished for reuse or responsibly recycled to minimise landfill waste. We adhere to all environmental regulations and site safety protocols, with full compliance documentation supplied.
Working with Reconomy Connect ensures compliant, traceable, and efficient recycling solutions, with flexible collection options and on-demand services.
Get in touch for more information:
housebuilding@reconomy.com | constructioninfrastructure@reconomy.com | biservice@reconomyconnect.com