One of my favorite things to do is tap into the waste stream and find new and reuses for many items that are left to be picked up and taken to the landfill (pollution is an unused resource). One of the most popular items that people are finding uses for these days is old pallets. Compost bins, pallet Gardens, etc. If you plan to use the pallets around food or people, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Not all, but some pallets are used for the shipment of toxic substances and others are chemically treated. Even brand new pallets can be treated, making them inappropriate for use around people or food. There is often really no sure fire way of determining what the pallet was used to ship. So here are a few pointers to help keep you safe when using pallet wood for your next project.

Inspect the pallet for cleanliness
If the pallet shows signs of staining or just appears dirty, you may want to pass on it. Stains can often be from things such as oil or food, but again, there is no real way of knowing exactly what it was used to ship. It’s better to stick to the clean ones.

Check the Stamp and Markings
Most pallets have some type of identifying marks that will let you know where the pallet came from and what treatments were used.

The IPPC Logo
IPPC stands for International Plant Protection Convention. All pallets that are used internationally are required to be made of a material that will not carry invasive insect species or plant disease. To meet IPPC standards, a pallet cannot be made of raw wood that has not been treated. These pallets must be treated by one of the two following methods, and the treatment will be under the supervision of an agency approved to do this. Without this stamp, the pallet may be safe, but it’s best to use pallets whose source can be traced.

Method and Treatment Code
Heat Treatment HT This stamp indicates the wood has been heated for at least 30 minutes to a minimum core temperature of at least 132.8 °F. A Pallet treated this way will be stamped with HT, and it should appear near the stamp of the IPPC logo. These pallets are safe to use.

Chemical Fumigation MB This means the wood was fumigated with a chemical called methyl bromide. A pallet treated with this should be stamped with the letters MB and it should appear near the IPPC logo. The use of methyl bromide was banned in March 2010 as an acceptable treatment under IPPC, however, you may still find a pallet that was treated using this method. These pallets are not safe to use and should be avoided.

Debarked DB This stamp means the pallet was debarked. This signifies that the wood was debarked under IPPC regulations. Wood packaging materials must be debarked prior to being heat treated or fumigated to meet regulations. Many pallets do not have this stamp, but are safe to use.

Colored pallets should also be avoided as they are often used to transport chemicals. Not all colored pallets are used for the shipment
of these toxic substances, but it’s best to be safe and avoid them. Also not all pallets have stamps or markings. These pallets were most
likely used for domestic transport and therefore do not require the IPPC logo. These pallets are often not chemically treated and safe to use, however, caution should be used.

Editor's note: Visit original post at New Meridian Designs to view the graphic on logos. Images can not be added to blog posts, or I haven't figured it out, yet.

For more information about permaculture, visit Mark's site at New Meridian Design

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