Trying to dispose of wooden pallets in the Carolinas is no easy feat. With strict dumping and disposal regulations of many trash items, what do you do with a stack of unwanted wood pallets that you aren’t allowed to just throw in a landfill?
Unless you’re well-versed in reading complicated legalese, illegal dumping code law can be difficult to understand. In this blog, we explain North Carolina and South Carolina’s wood pallet laws in plain English. We’ll also give you some good solutions for disposing of your pallets legally.
If you’re looking for a legal, eco-friendly disposal option for your used pallets in North or South Carolina, you’ve come to the right place!
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Illegal Wood Pallet Dumping in the Carolinas
Both North and South Carolina have enacted some pretty strict illegal dumping laws for wooden pallets. Because of these laws, it isn’t always easy to find legal options for getting rid of your old wooden pallets.
As tempting as it might be, you can’t just throw your wooden pallets out in a dumpster or with the trash. Dumping your unwanted wooden pallets isn’t just illegal, it is also bad for the environment and creates an eyesore for your community. We all should take pride in where we live, and strive to keep our state beautiful and junk-free.
There are also different disposal methods for pallets that are the result of construction and manufacturing versus those resulting from deliveries to businesses or private residences. If you’re in construction, municipal solid waste laws don’t apply to you. All kinds of waste items generated from construction and demolition projects can be disposed of by taking it to special construction and demolition landfills or incinerators.
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Disposing of Wood Pallets in South Carolina
In an attempt to keep as much trash out of South Carolina’s landfills as possible, the state created and amended the South Carolina Solid Waste Policy and Management Act. Of this law, section 44-96-50 deals entirely with the state’s solid waste management policy and goals.
These laws were created to promote better disposal methods for wooden pallets and other rubbish that comes from residential, commercial, institutional and industrial sources. South Carolina enacted its municipal solid waste laws in an attempt to reduce the municipal solid waste stream – a.k.a. the amount of garbage generated, collected and managed – by at least 35% by 2005.
Trash from these sources is called “municipal solid waste”, and includes the following items:
- Durable and nondurable goods
- Wood pallets
- Appliances
- Vehicle tires
- Paper waste
- Household junk
SC Pallet Recycling Services
There are a handful of wood pallet recycling services in South Carolina.
Some of these companies will actually buy your wood pallets from you, so you might be able to make a few bucks during the disposal process. In order to utilize most of South Carolina’s wooden pallet recycling services, you will be responsible for hauling your unwanted pallets to a recycling facility yourself. But then again, when you need to get rid of them fast, you’re probably not wondering who buys used pallets in South Carolina!
However, depending on the area you live in, you might be able to find a recycling program that will come pick up your pallets for you. People living in larger cities like Charleston, Columbia or Greenville may have more options for pallet pick up, but it truly just depends on the services available in your specific area.
If you need help recycling your wooden pallets in South Carolina, a professional junk removal company like LoadUp can help. Our team of professional Loaders will pick up all of your old pallets from wherever they’re located in your home, place of business or warehouse, and haul them away for proper disposal.
Disposing of Wood Pallets in North Carolina
Much like its southern counterpart, North Carolina also enacted their strict pallet disposal laws to help reduce the amount of waste thrown in landfills with House Bill 1465 (2005). Although it was written into law in 2005, the bill officially banned the disposal of wooden pallets in municipal solid waste landfills statewide by 2009.
North Carolina’s wooden pallet disposal laws are the same as South Carolina’s: wooden pallets that weren’t generated as a byproduct of home or building construction are banned from all landfills. However, if wooden pallets are a result of a home or other building construction or demolition job, they can be sent to dedicated construction and demolition landfills.
NC Pallet Recycling Services
North Carolina residents also have many options when it comes to finding a pallet recycling center. Pallet recycling centers in North Carolina are a dime a dozen, so you’ll need to do some research to find the right company to fit your needs.
Since pallet recycling pick up and disposal services are in high demand, it can take weeks to get an appointment. Once you do get scheduled for service, you’ll have to take time off work to wait around for them to show up, load your pallets and haul them off. Residents of larger cities like Raleigh, Greensboro or Charlotte may be able get pallet pickup service faster, since more recycling centers service large metro areas.
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It seems crazy to have to wait around for a far-off appointment and then take off work just to get some pallets recycled, right?
Right! So what do you do when you need quick and easy wooden pallet pick up service that won’t cost a fortune?
Legal Wood Pallet Disposal in North & South Carolina
Wood pallets are heavy and awkward, and can be difficult to carry and load safely. Depending on how many wooden pallets you need to get rid of, you may need at least one other person to help you. If you don’t already have a vehicle that can handle the weight of your pallets, you may have to rent a truck with a high payload.
When you factor in the cost of hiring help, a truck and the gas that it takes to make multiple trips, disposing of wooden pallets can get pretty expensive.
If you don’t have the time or ability to safely haul your own pallets to a recycling facility, a nationwide junk hauler like LoadUp can help! We offer an affordable solution to legally disposing of all your unwanted wooden pallets, including recycling them at a wood pallet recycling center. We also offer discounted curbside pickup service for wood pallets and other unwanted junk items, giving you even more flexibility for scheduling service with us!
With a nationwide network of local Loaders, we are able to offer next day pallet removal and disposal service in most areas. We will remove all of your unwanted wooden pallets, no matter what condition they’re in, and haul them to a pallet recycling center for a fair, upfront price. With LoadUp, you’ll save time and money on wood pallet disposal.
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