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The Daily Insight

Are pallets treated UK

Author

David Jones

Published Jun 25, 2026

Untreated ‘national’ pallets – you can tell these because they either have no stamps, symbols or codes on them, or the stamp just says EPAL.Treated pallets with a two letter country code (for example, GB or FI – as in the image below) and another two letters indicating the treatment.

How can you tell if a pallet is treated UK?

  1. Untreated ‘national’ pallets – you can tell these because they either have no stamps, symbols or codes on them, or the stamp just says EPAL.
  2. Treated pallets with a two letter country code (for example, GB or FI – as in the image below) and another two letters indicating the treatment.

Do pallets need to be treated UK?

Under international rules, wooden pallets moving between the EU and UK will be required to meet ISPM 15 standards next year. They must be heat-treated at 56 degrees celsius to prevent the spread of pests and have specific markings to confirm they meet legal requirements.

How do you know if a pallet is treated?

Look for the IPPC stamp on the side of the wood to determine how it was treated. Pallets marked with an “HT” were heat-treated and did not come into contact with chemicals during the treating process. Avoid unmarked pallets or those stamped with an “MB” for methyl bromide.

Are pallets safe to burn UK?

Generally, pallets are safe to burn in fireplaces, although those that are treated with the fumigant methyl bromide (labeled with the initials MB) are unsafe to burn. … Be careful to check for nails while cutting pallets, as they may damage a saw blade.

What pallets are safe UK?

Newer British, Canadian and American pallets, for example, are largely safe as most are heat- or pressure-treated rather than being fumigated with chemicals. Pallets must now have the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) logo and are typically marked with a country code, unique number and either HT or MB.

Are CHEP pallets chemically treated?

We have developed the the CHEP PLUS PS (phytosanitary) pallet solution to comply with the ISPM15 regulations, ensuring all our wooden pallets are heat treated in a dry chamber or using microwave technology and are repaired with heat treated wood.

Is pallet wood safe for garden?

It has no bearing on the safety of the pallet. MB means that hazardous methyl bromide was used to treat the wood, so steer clear of such pallets if you want to use them for your edible garden crops, as they will toxify them with chemicals, which can lead to devastating health complications.

Why are pallets painted blue UK?

Re: Blue Pallets They are coloured blue to distinguish them from others. When a company delivers goods on these pallets the driver will receive a pallet control note to confirm that these pallets have been delivered.

How do you treat garden pallets UK?
  1. 1| Cleanse the pallet wood. To treat the wood of your pallet projects to protect them from the elements and make them waterproof, you’ll first want to ensure you are working with a clean surface. …
  2. 2| Sand it down. …
  3. 3| Seal the pallet wood.
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Are all pallets heat treated?

So, let’s get back to the original question: Do all pallets need to be heat treated? The short answer to this question is no. All the wood used to make pallets is kiln dried to cure it, but that does not meet phytosanitary standards, and is not considered heat treating.

Do I need to use heat treated pallets?

When you’re choosing a pallet manufactured from wood, it’s vital that you understand the benefits of using heat treated pallets. Heat treatment is essential in order to comply with ISPM15 requirements, which prevent the transfer of pesticides and infestation during the exportation process.

How do they heat treat pallets?

During this process, the pallets, boxes, or crates being treated are heated to a core temperature of 140 degrees for a minimum of 30 minutes. This ensures that all insects and larva will be killed off, after which the pallet can be used and reused to ship goods internationally.

How do you know if a pallet is safe to burn?

Pallets are usually safe for burning in the fireplace unless the pallet is labeled ‘MB’. Which are the initials that will be on those that have been treated with ‘fumigant methyl bromide’.

What can I do with pallets UK?

You can dispose of wooden pallets by taking them to the dump, However you need to check whether they are treated or untreated wood. Some pallets are heat treated to make sure they are free of biohazards and pests, while others dating from before 2010, may be to protect them still further.

Why are pallets painted blue?

Red pallets from Europe will be stamped LPR for La Palette Rouge and are used for international shipping. Blue pallets are stamped CHEP for Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool from Australia while brown pallets are stamped IPP for Logipal from Europe.

Are blue pallets toxic UK?

should avoid pallets which are painted (the blue, red and brown ones are usually collected and reused by the pallet company which supplies them). You should also avoid any pallets with a MB stamp. This stands for Methyl Bromide which is a harmful chemical used to prevent wood eating insects consuming the pallets.

Are pallets still treated with methyl bromide?

Some are treated with heat, but some still may be coated with a nasty pesticide, methyl bromide. These pallets must be marked with a logo that tells how they were treated. If you see HT (heat-treated), DB (debarked) or KD (kiln-dried), they’re safe to use if otherwise clean.

Why are pallets painted red UK?

The colour and code on each of these pallets will tell you which rental company they belong to, here are the four most common ones: Red pallets: pool LPR (La Palette Rouge from Europe) … Blue pallets: pool CHEP (Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool from Australia)

What pallets should you not use?

If there are any spills on it, either oil, food or unknown substances, do not use this pallet! Pallets are frequently used to transport dangerous or toxic chemicals/liquids. It is much safer to use only clean ones and not try to identify what might be on your pallet.

Are pallets Tanalised?

Pallets are ‘treated‘ to help prevent the spread of pests, insects, and microbes between different countries. Today you’ll commonly see ‘HT’ as the treatment, which means ‘heat treated’, so pallets with this stamp have been heated to a certain point to ensure any and all bugs in the wood have been killed off.

How much are blue CHEP pallets worth?

In the end a recovery mission in Europe found 70% of the missing pallets there. In the U.S. CHEP enlisted hundreds of customers as “participating” distributors, giving them incentives to return pallets on time. It pays ransom to pallet recyclers, $2.25 for each blue pallet they send back to chep.

What do red pallets mean?

Red pallets: LPR (La Palette Rouge from Europe) Blue pallets: CHEP (Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool from Australia) Brown pallets: IPP (IPP Logipal from Europe)

Are CHEP pallets hardwood?

Typically, CHEP pallets are made of hardwood and typically use Oakwood as the main material.

Will CHEP pallets burn?

You can burn heat treated pallets safely since they have not been chemically treated.

How do you use wood pallets for gardening?

Prepare a garden bed by rototilling, aerating, and working compost into the soil just as you would any garden, but in dimensions to accommodate the wood pallet. Dig a rough outline of approximately half the depth size of the outside frame of the pallet (approximately 4 inches) and place the wood pallet in the area.

What pallet wood is safe?

IDENTIFYING PALLETS AND MARKINGS The main thing you’re looking for on the label is the treatment code: HT: This means the pallet has been heat-treated which heats the core temperature of the wood. Pallets labeled with HT are safe to use.

Are pallets safe for compost bin?

Are pallets safe for compost bin? For the most part, yes, a diy compost bin from wooden pallets is safe as long as you take in a couple of factors. Pallets are made from wood, and sometimes that wood is treated with chemicals so that bugs don’t get into them.

How do you treat outdoor wood pallets UK?

Staining your pallet is the best way to treat it for outdoor use. Staining your pallet wood is the best way to treat it for outdoor use. In order to give your project the touch of a perfect finish, you are going to pass through the wood pallets staining process.

Can pallet wood be used for decking?

Pallets are very strong and weather resistant in many cases, which is why they are perfect for outdoor use. Second, the top boards are treated deck boards.

What paint do you use on pallets?

One can use the latex or acrylic paints to paint those rustic wooden surfaces, both these paint types have their own specification, stability criteria and capacity to withstand the weather and water! You can go with any of both these two depending on budget, weather conditions and wooden species!