Business operations
Recurring pallet pickup or a dumpster: which is better?
Updated
Short answer: For a steady stream of good pallets, a recurring pallet pickup is usually better: the pallets go back into use, the pickup may be free, and the dumpster stays free for real trash. A dumpster still makes sense for broken pallets mixed with construction debris, or for a one-time cleanout of junk.
The problem with pallets in a dumpster
Pallets are mostly air. A few thrown in a dumpster fill it long before it is heavy, and the next pull is charged whether the container holds a ton of trash or a dozen pallets. Meanwhile pallets a recycler could have resold go to landfill or a transfer station. Some waste contracts also limit bulky wood items, so check yours.
Side by side
| Recurring pallet pickup | Dumpster | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Steady flow of pallets, mostly good | Mixed trash and construction debris |
| What you pay for | The pickup, if anything: good loads may be free | Every pull, priced by container size and weight |
| What happens to the pallets | Reused, repaired, or ground for mulch and fuel | Landfill or a transfer station |
| Space | A pallet stack until the next visit | The container's footprint, all the time |
| Effort | Sort pallets onto one stack | Throw everything in |
When a dumpster is the right call
- Pallets that are broken, rotten or soaked in something.
- Job sites where pallets are buried under drywall, wrap and offcuts.
- A one-time cleanout where pallets are a small part of the junk.
Even then, pulling the good pallets out first often pays: they can go on a pallet pickup, and you need fewer pulls.
Setting up a recurring pickup
Estimate how many pallets you collect in a week (the pile sizer helps), choose weekly, every two weeks or monthly, and say how you'd like it to work. The recurring pickup page covers the details.