Pallets Research Paper

With so many needs on the homestead, using pallets to meet some of those needs seems like an easy and inexpensive option. From simple shelving to mini barns for goats, projects around the homestead that can easily be completed with pallets abound. What makes them even more attractive is the fact that most often these pallets are free, or nearly free, in exchange for a prompt pick up. Pallets are available from any number of retailers, manufacturing facilities, grocers and other places of business. The quality of pallets varies. From debarked hardwood to cardboard-enhanced pressed wood, pallets are made to withstand the rigors of shipping via train, plane and truck.
Have you ever thought where the pallet you picked up last week has been? It
For many, the answer to cleaning pallets is to fumigate the pallets with methyl bromide, a pesticide that has restricted use due to its toxic nature, or they may choose to heat-treat each pallet. Methyl bromide is not only an environmental toxin, but is also a known neurotoxin and carcinogen causing symptoms such as fatigue and acute memory loss. Heat treated pallets are of course free from methyl bromide and its’ less than desirable side effects but exposure to outside elements will more easily allow them to be contaminated again. New government standards include labeling pallets for methyl bromide, shown as MB on pallets, or HT for heat treated ones. This will help you choose a pallet that is safe for both you and the environment.
Any project that will be indoors should be made with clean, heat-treated pallets. These are not pallets that come from grocery chains or big box stores, but those that come from schools, newspapers and similar businesses. These pallets tend to be very clean and are the most likely to be free from chemicals that are leached into the air. Pallets can quickly be made into shelves for storage which is an important part of becoming self-sufficient on the