What chemicals are used on pallets?
by
Lena
+3
last I knew, pallets are treated with various chemicals to keep them from rotting or being infested by molds or bugs. This is why they're never recommended to use as firewood. I shudder to think of people sanding them without protective filter masks, and I'm not thrilled about their outgassing whatever in my indoor environment.
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I have never ran across pallets that are treated with anything. A lot of them are just made of cheaper grade of raw wood that normally would be disposed of. If they were treated in any way, they definitely would not be able to be used to transport food products, personal care products, paper products because of cross contamination. Of course there will be pallets that are subject to chemical spills from factories. Generally, pallets are safe to burn in fireplaces, although those that are treated with the fumigant methyl bromide (labeled with the initials MB) are unsafe to burn. Also, pallets may have been exposed to a variety of chemicals while they were in use. Too much effort for the amount of heat gained. Between nails, paint, weird stains and lots of skill saw work the return is minimal. Still there are many people that burn pallet wood to heat their homes and they're free.
Where I live, they reclaim broken pallets as mulch. www.brinkwoodproducts.net it's used on playgrounds. I've never heard of them being treated. Usually pallets are scrap wood. I've seen maple and pine in pallets. I've never heard of people burning them. although I know they are also recycled in pellet stoves.
All pallets should have markings on them (I thought it was an EPA law). The ones that are safe to use have an H or HT marking meaning they have been Heat Treated rather than chemically treated. Chemically treated ones have a different marking but at the moment I can't remember it. I just always look for the H.
I think you would find that the pallets that are reused by companies are treated I am just not sure with what, however the pallets that are the light pine type I am thinking are not treated and yes as all have said they are disposed of after use.....
Check on "1001pallets.com" they will tell you more about pallets than you will ever want to know. Most places pallets are free, so make use of them. Have fun!
Awesome site, I've been browsing all morning!