95% wooden pallets recycled into biofuel, mulch, animal bedding

April 15, 2018 |

In Virginia, a new study conducted by Virginia Tech on the disposal of wood pallets at landfill sites reveal that 95% of wooden pallets are being recycled. Wooden pallets get used, reused, and when they are no longer useful, they are converted to mulch, animal bedding or biofuel.

Both municipal and solid waste (MSW) and construction and demolition (C&D) landfill facilities were surveyed over two years to better understand how pallets were being handled at these facilities. According to the study, the number of pallets entering the landfill reduced by 86%, for both MSW and C&D facilities. Environmental awareness, limited space and a desire to be more waste efficient have driven many of these facilities to sort and recover certain types of waste. The overall presence of wood pallets at landfill facilities also significantly decreased.

The research project was funded in part by the USDA Forest Service and The Pallet Foundation, and the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association was engaged in the study as well.

Category: Research

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