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Arizona: bulk merchandise container purchases

A 'bulk merchandise container' is a plastic or wooden carrier or holder used by a manufacturer or distributor to transport merchandise to wholesale and retail outlets, which covers pallets.

A.R.S. § 44-1799.81. In force since Invalid Date. Last reviewed October 27, 2026 by repallet.org editors. Not legal advice.

What the law says

  • A 'bulk merchandise container' is a plastic or wooden carrier or holder used by a manufacturer or distributor to transport merchandise to wholesale and retail outlets, which covers pallets. A.R.S. § 44-1799.81(G) (source)
  • Before buying five or more marked plastic containers, or ten or more wood containers, from one person at one time, the business must obtain the seller's name, address and phone, a description and count, the date and any delivery vehicle's plate, and verify the seller's photo ID. A.R.S. § 44-1799.81(A) (source)
  • The record must be kept for one year, and splitting one seller's same-day sales into separate transactions to avoid the rule is itself prohibited. A.R.S. § 44-1799.81(B)–(C) (source)
  • Civil penalties reach $10,000 per violation of the record rules and $30,000 for evasion, on top of a petty offense or class 2 misdemeanor depending on the purchase price. A.R.S. § 44-1799.81(E)–(F) (source)

What to do

Return marked pallets to their owner instead of selling, scrapping or burning them. See pooled pallets for each owner's return route.

Sources

  1. A.R.S. § 44-1799.81 (plastic or wood bulk merchandise containers) Arizona Legislature. Accessed October 27, 2026.

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