If you run a business in Essex and you deal with wooden pallets, two questions come up again and again. How do you get rid of the pallets piling up in your yard, and how do you get the right size pallets delivered when you need them? This guide answers both, and it also explains the basics of pallet sizes, so you know exactly what to order next time.
CM Pallets has worked from Wick Place Farm in Upminster for 20 years, so we have seen almost every version of this problem. Whether you run a warehouse in Basildon, a shop in Chelmsford, or a workshop in Colchester, the same rules apply. This guide walks through pallet collection Essex businesses can book quickly, pallet delivery Essex options that fit round your schedule, and a plain sizing guide so you order the right pallet the first time.
Why pallet collection and delivery matter to your business
Old pallets take up space. They block fire exits, they get in the way of forklifts, and a pile of them looks messy to customers and visitors. At the same time, a business that runs out of pallets at the wrong moment can hold up a whole delivery run.
Sorting both problems together saves time. Many Essex businesses book a collection of unwanted pallets and a delivery of fresh stock on the same call, so the yard gets tidied up and restocked in one visit.
Pallet collection Essex businesses can rely on
Pallet collection means someone comes to your site, picks up the pallets you no longer need, and takes them away to be reused or recycled. CM Pallets offers same-day collection across Essex, Kent and London, depending on how busy the schedule is on the day you call.
A few things make collection easier to book:
- Tell us roughly how many pallets you have and what state they are in.
- Let us know if there is anything unusual, such as mixed timber, broken pallets, or non-standard sizes. We take those too.
- Have a clear space for the collection vehicle to reach, so the driver is not held up.
For a fuller walkthrough of how the whole process works from first call to the pallets leaving your site, our guide to pallet collection across London, Essex and Kent covers it step by step.
Pallet delivery Essex businesses can book fast
Delivery works the other way round. You tell us what pallets you need, how many, and where to send them, and we get them to you. CM Pallets offers a 24-hour guaranteed delivery service across Essex for untreated pallets of all grades, so a sudden order does not leave you short.
We stock a wide range, including standard Grade A and Grade B pallets, several weights of Euro pallet, plastic pallets, printer pallets, and custom sizes for awkward loads. If you are not sure which one suits your job, our pallet delivery Essex page lists what is normally in stock, or you can just call and describe what you are moving.
A plain sizing guide: which pallet do you actually need?
Pallet sizes confuse a lot of people, mostly because there are only two sizes that really matter, and everything else is a variation on those. Here is the short version.
| Pallet type | Size (length x width) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| UK standard | 1200mm x 1000mm | General warehouse and retail use across the UK |
| Euro pallet | 1200mm x 800mm | Goods travelling to or within Europe, and tighter storage |
| Industrial | 1200mm x 1200mm | Heavy machinery, drums, building materials |
| Half pallet | 800mm x 600mm | Shop floor displays and smaller loads |
| Quarter pallet | 600mm x 400mm | End of aisle displays and light goods |
The UK standard pallet is the one most businesses reach for by default, because British warehouses, racking and lorries are built around its dimensions. The Euro pallet is 200mm narrower, which does not sound like much, but it means three fit across a lorry instead of two. If your goods are heading to Europe, or you simply need to pack more onto a vehicle, a Euro pallet is worth asking for.
If you want the full breakdown, including container and lorry loading numbers and exact weights, our complete guide to pallet dimensions and standard sizes sets it all out.
Should you choose new or graded Euro pallets?
Once you know you need a Euro pallet, the next choice is new or graded. New pallets are unused and consistent, which suits export and food-grade work. Graded pallets have been used before and inspected, then sorted into condition bands. They are cheaper and perfectly fine for most internal warehouse jobs.
Most Essex businesses buying Euro pallets choose graded stock for everyday use and reserve new pallets for the jobs that need them, such as exports that must look presentable on arrival. Our post on new versus graded Euro pallets goes through the choice in more detail, including what each grade actually means.
Is pallet wood treated?
This question comes up a lot, especially from businesses sending goods abroad. The short answer is: usually, yes, but not always in the same way.
Most commercial pallets are heat-treated. This means the wood is heated right through to at least 56°C for a minimum of 30 continuous minutes, which kills off pests without using any chemicals. Heat-treated pallets carry an official HT stamp and meet the international standard called ISPM 15, which is required if your goods are travelling outside the UK. You can read the official rules on wood packaging material treatment on the GOV.UK guidance page for importing and exporting wood packaging material.
Some older or lower-cost pallets use chemical treatment instead, though this method is far less common now. If your pallets will ever come near food, always ask for heat-treated stock rather than chemically treated. Our post on whether pallet wood is treated explains both methods and how to check which one your pallets have had.
Getting collection and delivery sorted together
If you are dealing with a yard full of unwanted pallets and you also need fresh stock, there is no need to book two separate jobs with two separate companies. CM Pallets handles pallet collection and pallet delivery across Essex, so one phone call can clear your old pallets and restock you with the right sizes on the same visit.
Ready to sort your pallets? Contact CM Pallets today for a same-day collection or a 24-hour delivery quote, or call us on 01375 767790 to talk through what you need.