NWPCA SCORES BIG WIN FOR ENVIRONMENT AND PALLET INDUSTRY – PALLETS TO WOOD PELLET FUEL
March 12, 2020: Last night, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Administrator, Andrew Wheeler, signed into regulation language that opens the path for wood pallet residuals to be sold as wood pellet fuel. NWPCA’s Vice President of Advocacy and External Affairs Patrick Atagi said, “NWPCA members were able to be proactive and change existing federal regulation that had previously prevented recycled wood pallets from being used in pellet fuel.” Atagi continued, “I’m very proud of NWPCA members, the pallet industry, and EPA to make this change – it shows working-together-works! A special shout-out to BDL Supply, CHEP/Brambles, Hay Creek Pallet Co., Industrial Pallets, Northland Pallet, Vecoplan Midwest and WestWind Logistics for their time, energy and tremendous support.”
On March 16, 2015, EPA issued a final rule revising the Standards of Performance for New Residential Wood Heaters. 80 Fed. Reg. 13,671 (Mar. 16, 2015). In that rule, EPA promulgated regulations governing requirements for pellet fuel. EPA also listed a variety of prohibited fuel sources. One such category of sources was “Railroad ties, pressure-treated wood or pallets.” The language inadvertently, but effectively, prevented wood pallets from being certified as wood pellet fuel. The pallet industry prides itself on its environmental footprint; including a 95% recover, recycle rate that leads the landfill avoidance rate of all competing packaging materials.
With the passage of this revised regulation, the wooden pallet industry can maintain and grow its recycling rate even further. This is a fantastic win for the environment, the industry, and NWPCA members – job well done!
CONTACT
Patrick Atagi
Vice President, Advocacy & External Affairs
703.519.6104
Email
