A messy yard slows everything down. Drivers cannot find loading bays, stock gets lost behind broken wood, and workers trip over nails and strapping. A proper pallets collection fixes this fast, but only if you prepare the yard first.
The Health and Safety Executive reminds employers that good housekeeping is a legal duty, and that floors must be kept clear so people can move around safely. Follow the seven steps below and you will book the right service first time.
The 7-Step Checklist
1. Sort by grade. Separate pallets into clear groups. Keep reusable pallets apart from broken ones, and Euro pallets apart from standard UK sizes. If you have Grade A pallets in the mix, these may have resale value, so keeping them separate means a better return.
2. Separate broken from reusable. A reusable pallet has all its boards, no major cracks, and no split stringers. Many collectors pay for reusable stock and charge for broken stock, so this sort alone can change your price.
3. Count the load. Walk round and do an actual count. Write down type and grade together, for example: 40 Grade A standard, 25 broken mixed, 12 heavy weight strapper, 8 odd size. A proper count helps the team send the right-sized vehicle.
4. Check for nails and contamination. Look for protruding nails, metal banding, plastic strapping, paint, or soaked timber. Contaminated wood cannot always be recycled the same way as clean timber. Remove obvious hazards and flag the rest.
5. Photograph the stack. Take clear photos from two or three angles plus a wide shot of the whole yard. Photos help the office quote accurately and send the right vehicle first time.
6. Confirm vehicle access. Check gate width, height clearance, overhead cables, and turning space. If access is tight, tell the provider so they can send a smaller vehicle.
7. Pick a sensible time slot. Avoid shift changes and busy delivery windows. Give the driver at least one hour of clear access, and make sure someone on site can sign the paperwork.
Tidy Yard vs Messy Yard
| Task | Tidy Yard | Messy Yard |
|---|---|---|
| Driver arrival to first lift | Under 10 minutes | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Loading time (50 pallets) | 20 to 30 minutes | 60 to 90 minutes |
| Repeat visit needed? | Rare | Common |
| Total site time | Around 45 minutes | 2 to 3 hours |
Preparation roughly halves collection time. That means your staff get back to work faster and costs often come down too.
Which Service Do You Need?
Free collections work for good-quality reusable pallets in reasonable volumes. Charged pallets collection is for broken, contaminated, or mixed loads that need recycling. For ongoing needs, ask about full pallet services, which cover scheduled collections, deliveries, and recycling together.
FAQ
How many pallets is worth a collection? Most providers start at around 20 pallets.
Do I need to stack them a certain way? Yes. Stack flat, same size together, no higher than 1.8 metres, and away from vehicle lanes.
Can you take broken or odd-sized pallets? Most general collectors will not, but specialist recyclers like CM Pallets accept broken, mixed, and non-standard loads.
How soon can collection be arranged? Often next-day if you book before midday.
Do I get paperwork? Yes, always ask for a waste transfer note or collection receipt.
