The six stations
1) Intake & sort — pallets are counted and triaged by size and condition. 2) Inspection — each unit is checked for repairable damage versus scrap. 3) Repair & reboard — cracked boards and stringers are replaced to return pallets to grade. 4) Grading — repaired pallets are sorted into #1, #2 and combo stacks.
5) Disassembly — beyond-repair units are broken down; sound boards become reclaimed lumber. 6) Fiber & metal recovery — remaining wood is ground for mulch/bedding/biomass and fasteners are magnetically separated for scrap.
Why the destination matters
The whole point of a recycling line is to change a pallet's destination from landfill to another working life. Every station exists to squeeze more service out of the same timber before it's finally reduced to fiber — and even then that fiber has a second job as mulch or fuel.
Run well, the line approaches zero landfill: the only things leaving are graded pallets, reclaimed lumber, ground fiber and separated metal — all of it headed back into use.
Put it to work
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