12 Creative Ways to Recycle and Reuse Wood Pallets

Learn what pallets are safe and how to dismantlel and recycle them into amazing projects for your home.

Wood pallets are the best FREE product that is most popular for creating DIY projects. Pallets are not only free but versatile and perfect for repurposing. Whether you use them in their original form or dismantle them into planks. Pallets are the ultimate free wood for creating unique projects for your home.

Before I dive into the pallet projects, I wanted to share a few sources for finding free pallets, how to determine which pallets are safe and how to dismantel them without breaking boards.

-WHERE TO FIND FREE PALLETS-

1. Online - A quick search on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist will more than likely result in a list of local businesses giving away pallets for free.

2. Outside local businesses- You may find pallets in the back of local businesses or around construction sites that are no longer needed. Be sure to ask the owner of the business or site manager of the construction site before assuming they are free. Some companies may store them for later use, so it's always better to ask before taking.

3. Ask local businesses - If you don't have any luck finding pallets outside businesses, it may be worth going inside and asking if they ever have pallets that they are willing to give away.

4. Ask Friends - More than likely you probably know someone who is a contractor or who works for a business that often comes across pallets.

-HOW TO DISMANTLE PALLETS-

Knowing how to dismantle pallets without breaking boards is also helpful, especially if you want to make planter boxes, signs or other projects that don't involve the entire pallet.

-HOW TO MAKE SURE PALLETS ARE SAFE TO USE-

Pallets are used to transport thousands of products, with some of them being harmful chemicals and liquids. It's important to make sure the pallets that you use are safe for your home.

1. Check for a stamp - No stamp means the pallet is a national pallet or used for domestic transport. Most of these pallets are not used to transport chemicals or other harmful substances.

2. What to look for in a stamp - If you don't see an IPPC logo ( International Plant Protection Convention) then be sure to use the pallet with caution. IPPC means the pallet was made of material that will not carry harmful insect species or plant diseases. These pallets are required to be made of wood and treated with an approved treatment method.

3. Treatment codes - (HT) Heat Treatment, (MB) Methyl Bromide, (DB) Debarked, (KD) Kilm Dried

4. Avoid pallets treated with Methyl Bromide - These pallets are treated with a pesticide that poses health risks.

You can find a full list of safety guidelines and helpful information HERE.

-PALLET PROJECTS-

Turn old pallets into perfect rustic planter boxes.