In banning wooden pallets from landfill disposal, HB1465 placed no obligation on local governments to start wood pallet recycling programs. However, as other local governments have shown, if a yard waste or clean wood waste recycling program currently exists, it may be easy to add pallets to the mix. If space is avaiable at an existing site, little effort may be required to designate an area for pallet drop-off.
Local governments should first evaluate the current services they offer and the infrastructure available locally. The following questions may prove useful in determining whether to provide wooden pallet recycling services:
- Do you currently manage a yard waste facility, landfill or transfer station?
- If so, is there additional space available to designate for pallet recycling?
- What recycling or composting services are currently offered?
- Could pallets be integrated with current yard waste or other recycling operations?
- Are there private pallet or wood waste management companies active in the area?