Wood waste
Discarded wood; in some laws, a defined term that decides what a ban covers.
In everyday use, wood waste is any discarded wood. In law, the definition decides what a rule covers, and definitions differ by state.
Vermont is a clear example. Its statute defines 'wood waste' as trees, untreated wood and other natural woody debris, including stumps, brush and limbs, root mats and logs, and bans knowingly disposing of wood waste in solid waste or landfills from July 1, 2016. Clean, unpainted pallets are untreated wood; painted or treated wood falls outside that definition.
Massachusetts' waste ban simply lists 'wood' for landfills, and North Carolina names 'wooden pallets'. When you read a rule, start with its definition. See the landfill ban comparison.
A definition can also exclude things: Vermont's wood waste definition doesn't mention painted or treated wood, and the same section bans paint and stains separately. If you're unsure whether your pallets fall inside a definition, ask the state agency named on our state page.
Sources
- 10 V.S.A. § 6602 Definitions Vermont General Assembly. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- 10 V.S.A. § 6621a Landfill disposal requirements Vermont General Assembly. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- 310 CMR 19.017 Waste Bans Massachusetts DEP (text via Cornell LII). Accessed October 27, 2026.