Disposing of Wooden Printer Pallets

[harry]

I have no experience exporting to the US but for Australia, the whole container containing the products and pallets will need fumigation. No goods can be unloaded at their ports if not accompanied by a certificate of fumigation.

Coming to the printing pallet issue, why not try plastic pallets made from recycled plastics. Properly handled, they have a long reuse/service life.

 

[John Mann]

Good day all,

I am the environment manager for the printers at which I work. We do hold the ISO14001. My situation is that we have all our paper delivered on wooden pallets the majority of which are printer pallets. These printer pallets are of no use as far as I can see outside of the printing industry which leads ourselves to having a huge pile of broken pallets outside in our front car park.

I am aware that the disposal of wood to landfill is problematic. Its bulky mass makes it difficult to compact plus the high carbon and nitrogen content of wood means decomposition is slow, even in the most amenable conditions. Once the material starts to decompose, large void spaces can result in landfill subsidence. Waste timber can contribute to gas generation in landfill and wood treated with preservatives...

I am also aware that wood is a recyclable product and it drives me nuts to think that I have to pay good money to have these sent to a land fill......

Please does anybody have any suggestions on how to help... They would be most welcome and a round of would be forthcoming...

I'm a scout leader and here in Banbury, Oxfordshire our local scout camp site used to collect old pallets from the local area for use on the camp fires.

However, recently it was discovered that the scouts needed a waste transfer licence to do this, so we no longer take pallets and (presumably) they go to landfill.

 

[Claes Gefvenberg]

Please does anybody have any suggestions on how to help...

If they are still usable: Why not do what Wes says, or some variation thereof? Perhaps the supplier could pick them up when new supplies are dropped off?

It was really a win-win outcome.

It should be. Mutually beneficial supplier -customer cooperation that also lessens the environmental impact. How could you beat that?

/Claes

 

[GreenQuality]

One thing to consider is that quite often (more times than not) pallets utilize treated wood (for pests and rot) and as such the wood does contain trace chemicals so it is not always good to grind up for mulch. You may also want to consider storm water run off since trace chemicals are washed off if you store large quantities outside. We have individuals that come around and pick up wood pallets, repair them and resale them back to other companies. You may want to look for a simular party in your area.

 

[tamale]

I was in the same position as you having been the quality/environnemental manager for an ISO14001 certified printer.

I suggest you put thumb srews on your suplliers until they provide you with reusable/returnable pallets. It worked for us, paper suppliers are very well informed on the necessity of recycling.

Tamale

 

[samsung]

In our country such waste is sold at handsome prices since, after shredding or cutting into chips, it can be used as a fuel in furnace/ kilns by replacing part of the fossil fuel which can even generate carbon credits if a sizeable quantity is continuously available for trade.

Based on the feasibility, it would be yet an eco-friendly mode of disposal.

 

[Ted Schmitt]

Here in Brazil I have seen less fortunate people using the wood for other things... anywhere from building and selling along side the road dog houses and doll houses. The even less fortunate use the wood to build their own houses.

 

[samsung]

Here in Brazil I have seen less fortunate people using the wood for other things... anywhere from building and selling along side the road dog houses and doll houses. The even less fortunate use the wood to build their own houses.

Quite innovative, nontraditional, may be cheaper yet eco-friendly.