Today I show you how to find wooden pallets for free.
Are you looking for wooden pallets to make upcycled furniture?
Whether it's making a pallet bed, a table, an armchair, a sofa or even an outdoor kitchen...
Wooden pallet furniture has become ultra trendy!
The only problem ? Since they are trendy, wooden pallets have become more and more difficult to find!
In this article, you will discover the 5 best places you can EASILY collect free palettes .
But be careful, you have to be vigilant, because some palettes have undergone toxic treatments!
Luckily, I'll also show you how to spot pallets that are dangerous to your health . Watch the easy guide:
Here are the 5 places where you can easily find wooden pallets for free:
- industrial and craft areas
- supermarkets and hypermarkets
- construction sites
- small businesses
- the website montasdebois.fr
But be careful, NEVER use without authorization!
Always ask the owner of the premises or the employees if you can help yourself.
Why ? Because some pallets are consigned.
It is for this reason that you must ensure that the pallets are good to give before you serve.
Also, some palettes can be toxic.
But don't worry, I show you how to spot safe palettes, a little further down in the article.
Craft and industrial areas are one of the best places to find pallets.
Indeed, they bring together many shops, companies and factories.
Often the pallets are stored outside.
There are so many that some businesses look like pallet storage centers!
Just ask if they are to give in.
And most of the time, you'll be let off with a few.
So, how to find an industrial zone near you?
The easiest way is to go to this site which lists the zones throughout France.
Whether it is a supermarket or a hypermarket, the goods are necessarily delivered on pallets.
As long as they are not recorded, grocery stores are happy to dispose of them easily.
You just have to ask the department manager or the store manager if you can collect a few pallets.
Most of the time, they are happy to give you some.
Generally, they will let you know the delivery days and where to pick up the pallets.
There are also many big box stores that leave wooden pallets in parking lots.
In this case, all you have to do is help yourself! It's even easier.
To find all the supermarkets around you, use this site.
The major projects are one of the best places to get wooden pallets for free.
In fact, construction materials are usually made on pallets, most of which are then thrown away.
The only concern is that large construction sites are often closed to the public.
So the best thing is to go there and find someone to talk to and ask.
It is for this reason that small construction sites , such as houses under construction, are often a better option.
Indeed, they too often have wooden pallets to give away.
You just have to find the owner or the site manager to find out if he agrees to part with it.
Like supermarkets, many companies receive their deliveries on pallets.
This is particularly the case with wholesalers, who most of the time get rid of them willingly.
Indeed, wholesalers work on large volumes of goods, and have an impressive number of pallets.
Generally, it is very easy to collect pallets there.
Wholesalers are happy to get rid of them quickly to free up more space in their warehouse.
Some companies even place pallets in plain view on the sidewalk, knowing that they will quickly disappear!
To find wholesalers near you, it's best to type "wholesaler" in Google Maps.
You have surveyed industrial areas, supermarkets, businesses and construction sites...
But you still haven't found what you're looking for?
So, know that there is a site to help you get your hands on free wood:montasdebois.fr.
It is a platform on which craftsmen, traders and companies can donate their wood waste for free to individuals.
On this one, you will find a lot of classified ads from professionals who donate wood.
This is very useful for individuals looking for pallets.
But also for professionals!
Indeed, it saves them from making many trips to the recycling center to get rid of their wood.
Contrary to popular belief, looking for pallets at the recycling center is not a good idea .
For the simple reason that it is forbidden to leave with!
Indeed, the contents of the dumpsters belong to the community, owner of the site.
Admittedly, it is common for the staff to give you permission to pick up a few pallets.
But be aware that these complacent employees can be accused of professional misconduct.
There are several reasons why companies give away wooden pallets for free.
Deposited pallets must leave after use in a recovery circuit.
Therefore, it forces companies to call professionals to get rid of it.
But pallets clog delivery areas companies.
It is for this reason that many companies are ready to give them to you for free.
Unmarked pallets are only used once for transport.
But throwing these pallets in the dump has a cost for companies.
Indeed, they are forced to make many trips to the recycling centers to get rid of it.
Thus, professionals reduce their costs by giving their pallets to individuals:it's give and take!
To make recycled pallet furniture, you will need pallets. That's obvious!
But not so fast…
Some types of pallets, depending on the treatment they have undergone, can be very dangerous for your health!
So be careful when collecting pallets, and make sure they are safe to reuse.
Fortunately, spotting the types of pallets that can be used without danger to your health is very easy.
Just look at the marking on the pallets that you recover. Watch:
Click here to easily print this guide in PDF.
Pallets bearing the following markings are SAFE to use:
- DB :the pallet is made of untreated raw wood, from which the bark has been removed. In English, debarked (DB) stands for debarked. This type of pallet is therefore usable without risk.
- HT :the pallet has received a harmless heat treatment. The acronym HT (for Heat Treatment ) written on the palette attests to this treatment.
- EPAL :a quality and safety label for pallets. EPAL pallets must be treated to prevent the spread of insects or fungi. The European Union allows only heat treatment, safe to use.
- unmarked pallets :this type of pallet is used for the transport of goods within the country. If there is no marking on the pallet, it means that it has not received any treatment. It is therefore raw wood, which a priori is not toxic.
The pallets below have undergone toxic and dangerous treatments for your health. Do not use them!
- pallets with the mention MB :this acronym means that the palette has been treated with methyl bromide, a highly toxic and very dangerous treatment.
- pallets with the mention EUR :it should be avoided, unless the pallet also bears the mention EPAL.
- colored palettes :The paints used on the colored palettes can be very toxic. Even if they are attractive, it is better to avoid them.
There you go, you now know where to find wooden pallets for free whether you live in a big city (Paris, Marseille, Toulouse...) or even in the provinces or abroad (Montreal).
