Landfills Prohibit Plastic

3 Ways to Keep your Used Plastic Pallets out of Landfills

Most states prohibit plastic pallets in landfills. What are you going to do with yours?

Plastic pallets have increased in popularity over the past decades. In a recent study, 43% of companies using pallets include plastic. Plastic is being used in just about every industry including Pharmaceutical, Medical, Electronic, Chemical, Rubber, Food and Food Additives just to name a few.

If you can't use all plastic pallets coming into your plant, you're probably wondering how you can you get rid of them. I got you covered.

3 Ways to Keep your Used Plastic Pallets out of Landfills

Stacks of used plastic pallets like these are ready to be used again.

Plastic Pallets Piling Up?

If you are like most companies, your pallets are stacked in corners or stored in empty trailers until someone figures out how to get rid of them. Unlike wood pallets, you cannot burn them or grind them into mulch. Getting rid of them starts to become a big challenge. Landfills are not an option either so what do you do?

Here are my top 3 ways to deal with used plastic pallets:

  1. Use Plastic Pallets Internally
    Search high and low for ways to use them internally. Can you ship finished product out on them? Can another department or facility use them as a "captive" pallet? In both these cases, you are extending the life of these pallets without sacrificing the environment or your bottom line.

  2. Find a Used Plastic Pallet Buyer
    Find a source that can continuously take the used pallets out of your way. Used plastic pallet experts like Nelson Company specialize in finding qualified end users for used plastic pallets. Buyers are willing to pay for used plastic pallets that have extended lifecycles. One company gets a trip or two out of a plastic pallet and then Nelson Company helps another company use it again (and again). It's a WIN-WIN for all involved.

  3. Get Paid for Scrap
    If your quantities are varied or your used plastic pallets are not functional due to damage, buyers are usually not interested. In this case, start searching for a local plastic scrap company. There are plenty of recyclers that are willing to pay you for your scrap plastic.

Help the Environment and Get Paid

Now you know getting rid of your used plastic pallets does not have to be a daunting task. You can help your bottom line by reusing them in-house, reselling them as used pallets, or selling them for plastic scrap. No matter your choice, you're doing your part by keeping plastic pallets out of landfills.

Want to know if those unsightly stacks of plastic pallets at your company are worth something? Let's connect. Tell us about your stacks below or complete our Sell Your Pallets web form.

Updated: 06/12/2025 | Published: 02/21/2013
by Mike Cunneen on Used Plastic