Publication Details

Year Published

2009

Publication

Journal of Cleaner Production. 17: 271-275.

Abstract

Pallets literally move the world and an estimated 2 billion of them are in use in the U.S. every day. However, pallets have a short life span and thus consume vast quantities of resources. They are also responsible for 2-3% of all waste landfilled in the United States. This is despite the fact that technologies and markets exist that allow pallets to be reused, recycled, converted into other products or turned into mulch, boiler fuels or alcohols (ethanol). The State of North Carolina’s legislature debated a ban on landfilling pallets for several years and has now enacted legislation to ban this practice beginning in 2009. This study provided information used to help reach that decision.

Keywords

Citation

Buehlmann, Urs; Bumgardner, Matthew; Fluharty, Tom. 2009. Ban on landfilling of wooden pallets in North Carolina: an assessment of recycling and industry capacity. J. of Cleaner Production: 271-275.