Pallets on construction sites
Building materials arrive on pallets that often end up in the C&D roll-off. Many suppliers take their pallets back; ask before delivery. North Carolina is a notable rule: its environment department says pallets may go to a C&D landfill only if they are themselves C&D waste.
Where the pallets come from
Brick, block, roofing, drywall and lumber deliveries.
Mostly one-way and supplier-owned pallets, some heavy custom sizes.
Storage and handling
A pallet stack by the laydown area, separate from the roll-off.
Program checklist
- Ask each supplier whether it takes pallets back, and on what terms.
- Keep pallets out of mixed C&D containers.
- Send sound pallets to reuse and broken ones to a wood recycler.
- Record counts for the project's waste diversion report.
What to track
- Pallets returned to suppliers
- Pallets in mixed C&D roll-offs (target: none)
Model it
The Pallet Fate Report opens with a starting mix for a construction site. Replace it with your own counts; the figures are an illustration, not a benchmark.
Model this in the Pallet Fate Report
Sources
- Wooden Pallets N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. Accessed October 27, 2026.