Recycled pallet
Also called: used pallet, reconditioned pallet, repaired pallet
A recycled pallet is a used pallet that has been collected, sorted, repaired if needed and put back into service, or a pallet rebuilt from reclaimed components. In the US it is usually a 48 × 40 in GMA-style stringer pallet sold by grade, such as grade A or grade B.
In depth: Recycled pallets: grades, remanufacturing, cost and how to buy them
Recycling keeps pallets in use. A recycler buys used pallets (cores), sorts them by size and condition, repairs what can be repaired, and dismantles the rest for parts.
Kinds of recycled pallet
| Kind | What it is |
|---|---|
| Reused as is | Sorted, not repaired |
| Repaired | Damaged parts replaced or reinforced (for example with a companion stringer) |
| Remanufactured | Built from reclaimed components |
| Combo | New and reclaimed components mixed |
Market grades such as grade A and grade B describe condition. Definitions vary by supplier; the pallet grades guide compares them. The Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets also defines repair classes and repair marking.
ISPM 15 and recycled pallets
Under ISPM 15, a treated and marked pallet that has not been altered needs no re-treatment. A pallet with up to about one third of its components replaced is "repaired": the new parts must be treated and individually marked, or the whole unit re-treated with old marks obliterated. With more than about one third replaced, it is "remanufactured" and must be re-treated and re-marked. National rules can be stricter.
Why it matters
Recycled pallets cost less than new and use existing wood. Dimensions, species and condition vary more than with new pallets, which matters for automated storage, conveyors and pallet flow racks.
On a spec sheet or RFQ
State recycled, the size, the grade and the supplier's definition of it, whether repairs such as companion stringers or metal plates are allowed, and any treatment needed.
Common confusions
"Recycled" in pallets usually means reused or repaired, not ground into mulch. Wood that cannot be reused is ground, which is a separate stream.
Related
- TypesRecycled pallets: grades, remanufacturing, cost and how to buy themA recycled pallet is a used wooden pallet that has been sorted, repaired or rebuilt and resold. Used 48 × 40 in pallets are sold as Grade A (few or no repairs) or Grade B (repaired). They cost less than new, but grade definitions vary by supplier and any repair voids an existing ISPM 15 mark.
- GuidesPallet grades: Grade A, Grade B, remanufactured and combo palletsUsed pallets are sold by grade. Grade A (#1) pallets are clean and sound with few or no repairs; Grade B (#2) pallets are sound but repaired, often with companion stringers. Remanufactured and combo pallets are rebuilt from used and new parts. Definitions vary by vendor, so write yours down.
- GlossaryWhat is a grade A pallet?A grade A (#1) pallet is a used pallet, usually a 48 × 40 in GMA-style stringer pallet, in the best common condition grade: sound, with few or no visible repairs and no repaired stringers. There is no single standard definition, so each supplier's grade rules apply.
- GlossaryRemanufactured palletA remanufactured pallet is a pallet assembled from components reclaimed from dismantled used pallets, sometimes to a different size or design from the originals. Under ISPM 15, a pallet with more than about one third of its components replaced counts as remanufactured and must be re-treated and re-marked.
- ComparisonsNew vs recycled pallets: cost, quality and when to use eachChoose recycled (used) pallets for standard 48 × 40 in sizes when price matters and your customers accept Grade A or B. Choose new pallets for custom sizes, automated systems, exports, food and pharma, retailer programs that require new, or when you need a documented, consistent spec.
- GuidesPallet recycling: how used pallets are repaired, rebuilt and groundUsed wood pallets are widely recycled in the US. Recyclers collect them, sort by size and grade, repair the good ones for resale, dismantle damaged ones for parts to build remanufactured pallets, and grind the rest into mulch, animal bedding or biomass fuel. Businesses usually get free pickup or payment for full loads.
More in Commercial and lifecycle
- GlossaryClosed loopA closed loop is a supply chain in which pallets travel between a fixed set of sites and are returned to the owner for reuse, for example between a parts supplier and an assembly plant. Because the pallets come back, higher-cost custom, plastic or metal pallets can pay for themselves.
- GlossaryCombo palletA combo pallet is a wood pallet built from a mix of new and recycled components, commonly new stringers with reclaimed deckboards or the reverse. It sits between new and fully recycled pallets in cost and consistency.
- GlossaryCore palletA core is a used pallet, usually a standard 48 × 40 in stringer pallet, that a pallet recycler buys or collects as raw material to sort, repair and resell. Cores that cannot be repaired are dismantled for parts or ground.
- GlossaryGrade B palletA grade B (#2) pallet is a used pallet, usually a 48 × 40 in GMA-style stringer pallet, that has been repaired more than a grade A: it may have companion stringers, metal plates or replaced deckboards. It is functional but less uniform, and definitions vary by supplier.
- GlossaryMOQ (minimum order quantity)MOQ (minimum order quantity) is the smallest quantity a supplier will produce or sell in one order. For pallets it depends on the material and process: wood pallets need little setup, while custom molded plastic pallets need a mold and very large runs.
- GlossaryOne-way palletA one-way pallet is a pallet designed to make one trip and not come back, such as export pallets or shipments to customers who keep or discard the pallet. It is usually built lighter and from lower-grade material than a reusable pallet.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 286 words.