Wooden Pallets
Packaging Regulations
Wood, and therefore pallets, is included as one of the packaging materials in the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations (1997). For details, obligations and necessary contacts of the Packaging regulations, see the EIE packaging regulation pages.
Reduce
Most businesses using large numbers of pallets are able to identify solutions to pallet waste easily - and finding an individual recycling solution makes financial sense.
However for smaller businesses pallets may only be received occasionally - for example when periodic orders are placed, or a new supplier is used. For these businesses, the unexpected appearance of a pallet can mean an instant full bin. Whenever receiving goods on a pallet try to ensure that the supplier takes pallets away. This may mean quick unloading of goods, but in most cases, suppliers are likely to be able to ensure that pallets are reused, and will have an existing system in place.
Reuse
Many businesses re-use their pallets themselves. However, surplus pallets can be disposed of in various ways other than dumping them in a skip. These options depend especially on location, number of pallets, type of pallet and condition.
There are many companies that are willing to pay up to £2.50 for standard pallets that are in good condition - especially if you have plenty of them, but this price is likely to come down if some are damaged, non-standard, or for small quantities or if long distances are involved. It is important to check these details when you contact the company.
Most companies will take damaged pallets that are repairable, and some will collect pallets that are beyond repair as part of a load of better condition ones or for a fee. These - and non-standard ones - can still be used as "spare parts" for repairs, or they can be chipped for fuel, chipboard or for the horticultural market.
Waste wood can also be used as fuel. Wood fuel is carbon neutral because trees absorb as much carbon when they are growing as they release when they are burned. In order to become fuel, wood is usually turned into pellets which helps to reduce emissions and transport volume. More information on wood for fuel is available from Bioregional .
Almost all pallets can be reused or recycled. However, there is a more limited market for pallets that have either been painted or treated with preservative, since the contaminated wood cannot be used for either chipboard, fuel, or horticultural purposes.
There are also various alternative uses - pallets can provide a strong unit which can be used in construction, decking, fencing etc.
- If you are buying or requesting pallets:
- Try to buy used pallets whenever possible.
- Buy pallets that have been designed to have a longer life span. Although they may be more expensive to buy, they command a better price because they will be in better condition.
- Request only standard size pallets. Non-standard pallets are often refused by pallet companies.
- Do not paint or treat pallets with preservatives. They are less likely to be wanted by companies that reuse or recycle pallets
- Treat pallets with care - it is easier and cheaper to recycle unbroken ones.
Recycle
The list below contains the recyclers that are closest to Oxfordshire. If you are a company or organisation that reuse and recycle wood, wooden pallets or sawdust, and you think that the service that you provide would be relevant to this page please contact us .
Note: All organisations listed are either based in Oxfordshire, or have confirmed that their services cover Oxfordshire.
The list below contains the recyclers we have found that are closest to Oxfordshire. If you are a company or organisation that reuse and recycle wood, wooden pallets or sawdust, and you think that the service that you provide would be relevant to this page please contact us.Note: All organisations listed are either based in Oxfordshire, or have confirmed that their services cover Oxfordshire.
| Associated Pallets Ltd | Tel: 08000 228 655 or 02380 667999 |
Associated Pallets |
| Contact: John Shawyer. Email: info@associated-pallets.co.uk Contact: John Shawyer | ||
| Associated Pallets will collect pallets within Oxfordshire. A collection charge is made for scrap pallets. Where there is a reasonable mix of good pallets and scrap, costs can be offset although there is a preference for collection of good quality pallets | ||
| Chieveley Pallets | Tel: 01635 247017 Fax: 01635 247 636 |
Priors Court Road |
| Contact: Henry Curtis | ||
| Chieveley Pallets will collect a minimum of 200 pallets from Oxfordshire. They will take good quality pallets only. | ||
| Direct Pallets | Tel: 01582 476290 Fax: 01582 477625 |
BP Fuel Site |
| Contact: Shaun McBride or Kevin McBride | ||
| Direct Pallets will collect a minimum of 500-600 pallets. They will take all types of pallets and repair them if they can. If they cannot be repaired the pallets are chipped and sold on as mulch. Note that collection of poor quality pallets will incur a charge. | ||
| J James Ltd | Tel: 01235 814565 | Hill Farm |
| Contact: Terry James | ||
| Operates a site clearance service and will collect pallets of any size or in any condition. Damaged pallets are chipped and sold on as mulch to both companies and individuals. Charges are dependent on distance, quality and quantity. For rough guidance - £120 for a lorry to pick up the pallets. | ||
| Kingswood Pallets | Tel: 07738 478 547 | Bear Farm |
| Kingswood Pallets will collect for Oxfordshire if the load contains at least 100-150 pallets. They prefer standard sizes (1000x1200 or 800x1200) but will also take irregular pallets for a fee. A fee is also incurred on damaged pallets. | ||
| The National Association of Pallet Distributors | Tel: 01325 462909 Fax: 01325 353712 |
Evergreen Pallet Solutions (UK ) Ltd |
| Email: Use the form on the website . Contact: Paul Tait | ||
| NADP is a group comprising various pallet recycling companies throughout the UK. The aim of the group is 'to promote the repair and recycling of pallets to the highest standards.' The services provided by NAPD members include sales of new and used pallets, pallet repair services, packing cases, export packing, factory clearance and wood waste disposal. The site contains a map of their members throughout the UK. | ||
| Pallets Unlimited | Tel: 01279 777666 Fax: 01279 777736 |
Barley Croft Works, |
| Contact: Jan Baruch | ||
| They will collect all types of pallets from Oxfordshire but would ideally need to fill a lorry (180-200 pallets for a rigid lorry, 350 for an articulated lorry). They repair what they can and chip the rest. If the pallets are in good condition and have a value then they will pay for them. If there is no value then there will be a small charge to pick them up (less than £50).Pallets Unlimited is keen to promote collections for groups of businesses (parks) because it lessens the cost for the individuals. They also collect sawdust. | ||
| PH Pallet Services | Tel: 01613 511 333 Fax: 01613 669 322 |
Broadway |
| Email: info@phpallets.com | ||
| PH Pallets buys surplus, redundant, or non-returnable pallets. They collect unsorted pallets and send your company a fax detailing the value of what they have collected and the value of the collection. Pallets that are not resalable are repaired or recycled. Other waste wood can also be collected for recycling. For smaller quantities of pallets they will accept delivery to their site. | ||
| R & F Pallets Ltd | Tel: 01727 822617; 07909 692593 Fax: 01727 824050 |
Unit 4, Smallford Works |
| Email: info@rfpallets.co.uk | ||
| R & F Pallets collect and sell waste pallets from customer sites. They utilise the good wood and repair broken ones with all generated waste being sent to a mulching site. | ||
| Robinsons Pallet Services | Tel: 020 8991 0992 Fax: 020 8991 9974 |
8 Marsh Road |
| Contact: John Robinson, Tony Robinson or Paul Anderson Email: Use the form on the website |
||
| Robinsons Pallet Services will collect a minimum of 400 pallets within 100 miles of Wembley (This covers the whole of Oxfordshire). There will be a charge for unreparable pallets. Additional collection charge for poor quality pallets is £1 a pallet, but these costs can be offset by good quality pallets which they may pay for. They are mainly interested in standard sized pallets. | ||
| UK Wood Recycling | Tel: 01642 452 044 Fax: 01642 452 055 |
UK Wood Recycling Ltd |
| Email: info@ukwoodrecycling.co.uk | ||
| UK Wood Recycling takes pallets as well as many other wood types, excluding hazardous woods such as those used in railway sleepers and utility poles. Their collection service covers the UK, with costs depending on the size of the collection and the quality of the wood. It is more cost effective to sort the wood before they collect because a mixed batch will be priced based on the lowest quality wood present in the mix. Wood is recycled to produce a range of products or is chipped for fuel for Wilton 10 Biomass Power Station. | ||
| Wood Recycling Service Ltd. | Tel: 01727 855 600 Fax: 01727 834 499 |
Appsond Lane |
| Email: Use the form on the website | ||
| Wood is collected nationwide. Ring for more details on their rates. They have a wood recycling facility in London which will take commercial and public waste wood. They also provide a complete wood shredding and site clearance service. Their chipped wood is sold to the equestrian and horticultural markets. | ||
WRAP provides a wood recycling information service, Recycle Wood, which has a comprehensive list of wood recycling services and companies selling recycled wood products.
