Cores (Salvage) Pallets

Pallet cores are damaged or end-of-life pallets that have value primarily as raw material for repair lumber or recycling. These pallets cannot be used for shipping or storage in their current state - they may have broken stringers, missing boards, or structural damage that makes them unsafe for load-bearing applications.

The pallet core market serves an important function in the wood pallet ecosystem. Rather than sending damaged pallets to landfill, core buyers salvage usable lumber for pallet repair operations. A typical pallet repair facility purchases cores, disassembles them, and uses the sound lumber to rebuild or repair other pallets.

For pallet sellers, cores represent the minimum value tier. If your pallets don't qualify for Grade C or repair, they become cores. The price for cores is often quoted per ton or per truckload rather than per pallet, reflecting their commodity status.

Some pallet cores also enter the recycling stream for mulch, animal bedding, or biomass fuel. The destination depends on wood treatment status and local recycling infrastructure. Heat-treated pallets without chemical contamination command better prices for these secondary uses.