Guide / Disposal
How to get rid of pallets
To get rid of pallets in Oklahoma City, sell the sound ones, send the broken ones to a recycler, and arrange a scheduled clear if the pile refills. Start by sorting the pile into three stacks and counting each.
Four routes
| Pile | Best route | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Mostly sound 48x40s | Sell as sorted stock | Sell sorted pallets |
| Unsorted mix | Sell as a mixed load | Mixed loads |
| Broken and worn | One-time clear, then recycling | One-time pickup |
| Refills every week | Scheduled clear | Recurring dock pickups |
What not to do
Do not burn pallets, and do not pile them against a building: stacks near walls and sprinklers are a fire hazard and a nuisance to neighbours. Treated pallets carrying a heat-treatment stamp are regulated wood packaging and are not meant for casual burning. Do not leave stacks on bare soil through the spring, because wet pallets get heavy and moulder. Do not give them away to strangers without checking where they will go.
A two-hour clean-up
- Walk the pile and pull the visibly sound 48x40s to one side.
- Stack the broken ones apart, flat and low.
- Count each stack; photograph all three.
- Note the access: gate hours, dock or ground, turning room.
- Send the count, the photos and the town or ZIP in one request.
The Dock Sorter asks the same questions and reads the answer back as worth selling, worth sorting or just clearing.
Will someone pick up pallets for free?
Sometimes, if the pallets are sound enough to resell. Who pays for hauling depends on what is in the pile. A pile of cores can still have value to a recycler; a pile of rotted wood may cost something to move. The only way to know is to describe the pile.
Three questions to ask first
Ask whether the pallets are sound, how many there are and how often more arrive. Sound ones can be sold, a large number justifies a scheduled arrangement, and a steady flow suits a standing pickup. If none apply, a one-time clear is the plain answer.
Landfills often reject wood waste, and illegal dumping brings fines. Burning pallets is regulated and dangerous. Selling or recycling is usually simpler and cheaper.
Preparing a pile for removal
Sort what you can. Put sound pallets on one side and broken ones on the other. Remove loose debris, strapping and plastic wrap. A clean, sorted pile can be priced quickly, and a mixed, dirty one takes longer to assess.
Photograph the pile from several angles and measure the footprint of the stack. Note where a truck can park and whether anyone will be on site to load. These details turn a vague offer into a ready one.
Questions, answered
Where to get rid of pallets in Oklahoma City?
Sell them if they are sound, hand them to a recycler if they are cores, or arrange a clear-out.