Frequently Asked Questions

We deliver throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan area, including all of Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties. We also serve locations throughout northern Illinois, northwest Indiana, and southern Wisconsin. For locations outside our standard delivery area, we can arrange transportation through our carrier network — contact us for a delivery quote to your specific address.

For standard recycled pallets in popular sizes (48 x 40, 48 x 48, 42 x 42), we typically offer same-day or next-business-day delivery for orders placed before noon. Custom sizes, heat-treated pallets, and specialty grades may require 3 to 7 business days. During peak season (September through December), lead times may be slightly longer. We always confirm delivery timing at the time of order so you can plan accordingly.

Pallets are delivered on flatbed trucks and unloaded by the driver using a truck-mounted forklift or by your receiving team using your facility's forklift. Please ensure you have a clear, level unloading area accessible by a full-size truck. If your facility does not have a forklift, let us know when ordering and we will arrange a truck equipped for ground-level unloading.

Absolutely. Customer pickup is available at our yard at 1135 Arbor Dr, Romeoville, IL 60446 during business hours. Bring your own truck and forklift or flatbed, and we will load your order. Pickup eliminates delivery charges and is a great option for smaller or urgent orders. Please call ahead so we can have your order staged and ready when you arrive.

Yes. We actively purchase used pallets from businesses throughout the Chicago area. We buy standard-size pallets (48 x 40 and other common sizes) in repairable condition. Pricing depends on the size, condition, and quantity of pallets you have available. For large quantities (100 or more pallets), we offer free pickup from your location. Contact us to arrange a buyback assessment — we will evaluate your pallets and provide a competitive offer.

Pallets that are beyond economical repair are broken down and the wood is recycled into useful products. Sound boards are salvaged and used as replacement parts in other pallet repairs. Remaining wood is chipped and processed into landscape mulch, animal bedding, biomass fuel, or particleboard feedstock. Our landfill diversion rate exceeds 95% — we are committed to ensuring that virtually no wood goes to waste.

Our recycling program is straightforward. You collect your used and damaged pallets at your facility. When you have a truckload (or we can schedule regular pickups based on your volume), we pick them up — often at no charge for sufficient quantities. Back at our facility, every pallet is inspected and sorted. Repairable pallets are reconditioned to grade specifications and returned to the supply chain. Non-repairable pallets are broken down for parts and wood recycling. You receive payment for qualifying pallets, turning a waste stream into a revenue source.

We offer four standard grades: Grade A (Premium) pallets are the highest quality recycled pallets with minimal wear, suitable for food, pharmaceutical, and retail display applications. Grade B (#1) pallets are structurally sound with moderate cosmetic wear, ideal for general warehousing and shipping. Grade C (#2) pallets have visible wear and may include repairs but meet standard load requirements, perfect for one-way shipments and cost-sensitive applications. Economy (Grade D) pallets are the most affordable option for light-duty and internal use.

Yes, and we encourage it. We are happy to provide samples of each pallet grade so you can evaluate them with your actual products and handling equipment. You can visit our Romeoville facility to inspect inventory in person, or we can include a sample selection with your first small order. Seeing and handling the product before committing to a large purchase is the best way to ensure you get exactly what you need.

Every pallet that enters our facility goes through a multi-point inspection process. Trained inspectors evaluate structural integrity (boards, stringers, and fasteners), dimensional accuracy, cosmetic condition, contamination (stains, odors, chemical exposure), and moisture content. Pallets are then sorted into the appropriate grade category. Any pallet that fails structural inspection is routed for repair or recycling — we never sell a pallet that could pose a safety risk.

Our regular inventory includes the most commonly used sizes: 48 x 40 inches (GMA standard, our highest-volume product), 48 x 48 inches (chemical and beverage industry standard), 42 x 42 inches (telecommunications and paint industry), 48 x 36 inches (beverage and publishing), and 48 x 45 inches (automotive). We also maintain periodic stock of 36 x 36 and other specialty sizes. Contact us to check current availability for your required size.

Absolutely. We manufacture custom pallets to any specification. Whether you need a non-standard size, a reinforced design for heavy loads, a combination pallet with special features, or a pallet engineered for automated handling systems, our team can design and build exactly what you need. Custom orders typically require 5 to 10 business days depending on the complexity and quantity. We provide detailed specifications and pricing before production begins.

Heat treatment is the process of raising the core temperature of wood packaging to at least 56 degrees Celsius (132.8 degrees Fahrenheit) for a minimum of 30 minutes. This process kills insects, larvae, and other organisms that could be transported across international borders. You need heat-treated pallets if you ship any products internationally on wooden packaging — it is a legal requirement under ISPM-15 in over 180 countries. Even if you ship primarily domestically, heat-treated pallets may be required if your products could be transshipped internationally by a downstream buyer.

Yes. Chicago Pallet Solutions operates an APHIS-certified heat treatment facility. Our computer-controlled kilns continuously monitor core wood temperatures with embedded probes, and every batch is logged for full traceability. After treatment, pallets receive the internationally recognized ISPM-15 stamp, which includes our facility number, the HT treatment code, and the IPPC logo. We can provide heat-treated pallets in any standard or custom size, and we also offer heat treatment services for your existing pallets.

Yes. If you have untreated pallets that need ISPM-15 compliance, bring them to our facility or arrange a pickup, and we will process them through our certified heat treatment operation. Turnaround is typically 2 to 3 business days. Each pallet is stamped with the ISPM-15 mark upon completion, and we provide a certificate of treatment for your records. This service is ideal for businesses that have pallets in inventory and receive an unexpected international order.

Every recycled pallet replaces a new one that would have required approximately 12 to 15 board feet of virgin lumber. Choosing recycled pallets reduces deforestation, lowers manufacturing emissions by up to 75% compared to new production, diverts wood from landfills (where it would release methane as it decomposes), and shortens the supply chain by keeping pallets in local circulation rather than shipping new pallets from distant manufacturing facilities. A typical mid-size warehouse operation that switches from new to recycled pallets can save the equivalent of hundreds of trees per year.

Yes. For businesses that track environmental metrics or report under ESG frameworks, we provide detailed sustainability data including the number of pallets recycled, estimated trees saved, CO2 emissions avoided, and landfill diversion tonnage. We can generate custom reports aligned with your reporting period and format requirements. This data can support your corporate sustainability goals and provide tangible evidence of your environmental commitment for customers, investors, and regulatory bodies.

Our landfill diversion rate exceeds 95%. Of all the pallets and pallet materials we handle, fewer than 5% end up as waste. Repairable pallets are reconditioned and sold. Non-repairable pallets are dismantled, and usable boards become repair stock. Remaining wood is chipped for mulch, biomass fuel, animal bedding, or composite wood products. Metal fasteners are separated and sent to metal recyclers. We are continuously working to push our diversion rate closer to 100%.