Poor interpretation of European packaging and waste regulations is leading to more one-trip, throw-away pallets than ever before, according to the pallet industry.
The National Association of Pallet Distributors (NAPD) said since wooden packaging was included in regulations three years ago, the national non-hire second-hand pallet pool had fallen by about 1.5 million units. Members have reported much lower stocks than normal and dwindling incoming supplies.
It believes the shortage is due to the policy of sending once-used pallets to chipping plants for immediate recycling in the belief it best meets the user’s obligations under the legislation. New pallets are also being made to such poor specifications they are often irreparable after initial use.
The NAPD believes a more enlightened inter-departmental approach could produce considerable savings in the cost of pallets and packaging waste rules. It said a sound specification for a multi-trip pallet can be more cost effective in the long term.
NAPD secretary Paul Tait said: “If nothing is done to reverse the trend, UK manufacturing businesses which have traditionally enjoyed a regular supply of good quality refurbished pallets at a competitive price will, inevitably, have to pay more for the remaining pallets in circulation or else buy new.”
