Pallet Recycling

1.Pallets arrive at our yard via customer drop-off or our pickup fleet. Each load is weighed and logged into our tracking system.

2.Incoming loads are photographed for documentation. For recurring customers, we maintain load history records that help us track quality trends and optimize pickup scheduling.

3.Pallets are unloaded and staged in our receiving area, organized by source and estimated condition. This initial staging ensures efficient flow into the inspection process.

4.Contaminated or hazardous loads are identified at intake and handled according to CalRecycle and Kern County waste management regulations. We refuse loads containing treated lumber (CCA, creosote) or chemical contamination.

1.Our trained sorting team evaluates every pallet individually. Each pallet is assessed for structural integrity, board condition, stringer condition, fastener integrity, and overall cleanliness.

2.Pallets are sorted into four categories: reusable as-is (goes to sales inventory), repairable (goes to repair line), dismantlable (good boards can be salvaged), and grindable (no reusable components).

3.Reusable pallets are further graded into A, B, and C categories based on condition. Grade assignments follow industry-standard criteria for dimensional accuracy, surface condition, and load-bearing capacity.

4.The sorting process is fast but thorough. An experienced sorter can evaluate and categorize 300-400 pallets per hour, and our team sorts continuously throughout the workday.

1.Pallets identified as repairable move to our dedicated repair shop. Our repair technicians use pneumatic nailers, pry bars, and saws to replace damaged boards and reinforce weakened stringers.

2.Replacement boards come from two sources: reclaimed boards salvaged from dismantled pallets, and new lumber purchased from regional suppliers. We prioritize reclaimed material when dimensions and quality match.

3.Repaired pallets are re-inspected after work is completed. They must meet the same grade standards as pallets that entered the system in that condition. A repaired Grade B pallet is indistinguishable from a non-repaired Grade B pallet.

4.On average, our repair line processes over 500 pallets per day. Repair is the single most impactful stage of our recycling operation because it transforms pallets that would otherwise be dismantled into fully functional units.

1.Pallets that cannot be economically repaired are dismantled. Our dismantling equipment separates boards from stringers and removes fasteners.

2.Every board is evaluated individually. Boards that are structurally sound and dimensionally accurate are pulled for use as repair stock. Even a pallet that is too far gone to repair often yields 2-3 usable boards.

3.Fasteners (nails, screws, staples) are collected and recycled as scrap metal. This prevents metal contamination in our wood grinding operation and recovers additional material value.

4.Wood that is not suitable for reuse as boards — cracked, split, rotted, or undersized pieces — is staged for grinding.

1.Our industrial grinder processes unusable wood into chips and fiber of various sizes, depending on the intended end product.

2.Coarse chips (1-3 inches) become landscaping mulch. Medium chips are processed into animal bedding. Fine fiber is used for compost or engineered wood feedstock. The largest pieces may go to biomass energy facilities.

3.Ground material is screened to remove any remaining metal fragments (from missed fasteners) and contaminants. Magnetic separation and screening ensure a clean final product.

4.Finished secondary products are stored in our yard and sold to landscaping companies, farms, compost producers, and biomass facilities. This final stage ensures that zero usable material reaches the landfill.