Pallet reuse program for a grocery distribution centre
A grocery DC receives a heavy mix of pooled (blue, red, plastic) and one-way pallets from many suppliers. The program that works separates them at receiving: pooled pallets go back to their owners, sound whitewood to a reuse company, broken wood to grinding. Landfill should be close to zero.
Where the pallets come from
Inbound from hundreds of suppliers; outbound to stores on DC-owned or pooled pallets; returns from stores.
Often a large pooled share. Measure it for a week at receiving before you set targets.
Storage and handling
Separate lanes for each pooler, for reusable whitewood and for scrap. Keep empty pallet stacks away from building walls and away from racks; ask your insurer and fire marshal what limits apply to idle pallet storage on your site.
Program checklist
- Count a week of inbound by type: CHEP, PECO, iGPS, whitewood good, whitewood broken.
- Set up each pooler's collection (see pooled pallets).
- Contract a reuse company for sound whitewood, ideally with collection on a set schedule.
- Route broken pallets to a grinder that keeps painted wood out.
- Report monthly: counts by fate and diversion rate.
What to track
- Pallets landfilled per month (target: none)
- Pooled pallets returned per month
- Whitewood sent to reuse vs grinding
- Haul pulls per month
Model it
The Pallet Fate Report opens with a starting mix for a grocery distribution centre. Replace it with your own counts; the figures are an illustration, not a benchmark.