Built on Purpose, Driven by Sustainability
Since 2009, Pallets Reuse has been transforming the way businesses think about pallets. We believe every pallet deserves a second life — and we have built an entire company around making that happen.
Want to Learn More About Us?
Reach out and let's start a conversation about how we can serve your pallet needs.
Get to Know Pallets Reuse
Dive deeper into who we are, where we came from, and what drives us forward every day.
Portland's Trusted Pallet Partner
Pallets Reuse was founded with a simple but powerful idea: the millions of pallets discarded each year represent not just waste, but untapped opportunity. What started as a small yard in Southeast Portland has grown into one of the Pacific Northwest's most respected pallet recycling and distribution operations.
We work with businesses of every size, from local craft breweries shipping their first cases to Fortune 500 distribution centers moving thousands of loads each week. Our approach is always the same: listen carefully, understand your needs, and deliver exactly the right pallet solution at a fair price.
Today, we process over half a million pallets annually and operate a fleet of trucks serving Portland, Seattle, Eugene, and everywhere in between. But our growth has never come at the expense of the personal service our customers have come to count on.
At a Glance
The Founding Story
In the spring of 2009, Marcus Dalton was managing a warehouse for a mid-size distribution company in Southeast Portland. Every week, he watched forklifts load dozens of perfectly usable pallets onto waste hauler trucks, bound for the landfill. At the same time, the company spent thousands each month buying brand-new pallets from a supplier three states away. The disconnect nagged at him for months until he finally sat down with his wife, Elena, at their kitchen table and asked a question that would change both their lives: “What if we just started collecting and reselling these pallets ourselves?”
Elena, who had a background in accounting and small business finance, ran the numbers that same night. The margins were tight, but the concept was sound. Within two weeks, Marcus gave his notice. Elena cashed out a modest savings account, totaling $5,000. They rented a quarter-acre gravel lot in the industrial district off Powell Boulevard, bought a used pallet jack from Craigslist, and put a hand-painted sign on the chain-link fence: “Pallets Reuse — We Buy & Sell Used Pallets.”
That first summer, Marcus drove his aging Ford F-150 from warehouse to warehouse, offering to haul away unwanted pallets for free. Business owners who had been paying disposal fees could not believe their luck. Elena handled the books, answered the phone, and negotiated with buyers. By August, they had their first repeat customer. By December, they had processed 8,000 pallets and turned a small but real profit. The idea was no longer just an idea — it was a business.
Starting From Scratch
The Daltons had no investors, no industry connections, and no employees. What they had was a relentless work ethic, a genuine belief in the value of reuse, and an ability to build trust with the warehouse managers and business owners they met. Marcus would often arrive at a loading dock at 6 a.m. with coffee for the forklift operators, learning their pain points and earning their loyalty one conversation at a time. Those early relationships became the bedrock of the company, and many of those original contacts remain customers to this day.
Elena's Vision
While Marcus built relationships on the ground, Elena was the strategic mind behind the business model. She recognized early that the company needed to be more than just a pallet broker. She developed the grading standards that gave customers confidence in what they were buying, set up the accounting systems that kept margins healthy even when lumber prices fluctuated, and created the customer onboarding process that still forms the basis of how Pallets Reuse brings on new accounts. Her insistence on treating every customer interaction as a long-term relationship, not a one-time transaction, set the cultural tone for the entire company.
Jorge Reyes Joins
In 2010, the Daltons hired their first employee: Jorge Reyes, a skilled carpenter from the neighborhood who had spent years building custom furniture. Jorge could look at a broken pallet and see exactly which boards to replace, which nails to set, and how to make a repair that would hold up under heavy loads. His craftsmanship set a standard that every repair technician at the company still follows. Today, as VP of Production, Jorge oversees the same processes he helped create, and he remains the person everyone turns to when a particularly tricky repair comes in.
Our Core Values
Sustainability
Every decision we make considers its environmental impact. We are committed to keeping pallets out of landfills and reducing the demand for virgin timber.
Integrity
Honest grading, transparent pricing, and straightforward communication. We build relationships that last because trust is never negotiable.
Reliability
Your supply chain depends on consistent pallet supply. Rain or shine, peak season or slow season, we deliver on time, every time.
Innovation
From heat treatment technology to custom logistics software, we continually invest in better ways to serve our customers and reduce waste.
What Sets Us Apart
There are other pallet companies in the Pacific Northwest. Here is why over 400 businesses choose to work with Pallets Reuse and, more importantly, why they stay.
Zero-Landfill Operations
Since 2015, not a single pallet that has entered our facility has ended up in a landfill. Pallets that can be repaired are repaired. Those that cannot are broken down into components: usable boards are reclaimed for future repairs, nails are collected for metal recycling, and remaining wood is ground into landscape mulch or biomass fuel. This closed-loop system means every single piece of material has a destination, and none of those destinations is a garbage dump. Customers who work with us can genuinely claim that their pallet program produces zero landfill waste, a claim that resonates powerfully with consumers, investors, and regulatory bodies alike.
Transparent Grading System
Many pallet companies sell used pallets with vague descriptions like 'good condition' or 'usable.' We believe customers deserve better. Our three-tier grading system, Grade A (like new, suitable for retail and export), Grade B (structurally sound with cosmetic wear), and Grade C (economy grade for single-use or internal logistics), has clearly defined criteria that every pallet is assessed against before it leaves our yard. Each grade comes with specific load-bearing guarantees. This means no surprises at the loading dock, no rejected shipments, and no wasted time sorting through inconsistent inventory.
In-House Heat Treatment
International shipping regulations under ISPM-15 require that wood packaging materials be heat treated to kill pests and pathogens. Many pallet companies outsource this service, adding cost, lead time, and logistical complexity. Pallets Reuse operates its own state-of-the-art heat treatment kiln on-site at our Portland facility. We can take a pallet from intake to certified ISPM-15 compliance in under 24 hours, a turnaround time that most competitors simply cannot match. For exporters who need compliant pallets on short notice, this capability is a genuine game-changer.
Real-Time Inventory Visibility
In 2017, we deployed a custom-built inventory management system that tracks every pallet from the moment it arrives at our facility to the moment it is delivered to a customer. Our sales team can tell you in real time exactly how many pallets of each size, grade, and treatment status are available. For high-volume customers, we provide portal access so they can monitor their orders, view delivery ETAs, and download compliance documentation without picking up the phone. This level of transparency eliminates the guesswork and back-and-forth that plagues traditional pallet procurement.
Pacific Northwest Coverage
With our main facility in Portland, a satellite depot in Tacoma serving the Seattle-Tacoma corridor, and a collection point near Eugene covering the Willamette Valley, we offer the most comprehensive pallet service coverage in the Pacific Northwest. Our fleet runs dedicated routes along the I-5 corridor daily, and we can reach virtually any business between Eugene and Seattle within a single business day. We also handle special deliveries to Bend, Medford, Spokane, and Boise on a scheduled basis. This regional footprint means you get the responsiveness of a local partner with the capacity of a regional player.
Consultative Customer Approach
We do not simply take an order and deliver pallets. Our sales team works with each customer to understand their specific application, shipping requirements, budget constraints, and sustainability goals. A food processor shipping frozen goods has very different pallet needs than a furniture manufacturer sending crated items across the country. We have helped customers reduce pallet spending by up to 35% simply by right-sizing their pallet specifications, switching to a more appropriate grade, or implementing a pallet return program. This advisory approach turns a commodity purchase into a strategic partnership.
Customer Success by the Numbers
Our commitment to quality and service is reflected in the metrics that matter most to our customers.
On-Time Delivery Rate
Industry average: 82%
Order Accuracy
Right pallet, right quantity
Customer Satisfaction
Based on 2024 survey
Customer Retention
Year over year
What Our Customers Report
Cost Savings
Operational Efficiency
Environmental Impact
Environmental Certifications
Our environmental commitments are not just promises. They are backed by independent certifications, third-party audits, and transparent reporting.
ISPM-15 Heat Treatment Certification
Our on-site kiln is certified to meet all International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 requirements. Every heat-treated pallet carries the official IPPC stamp, ensuring compliance for international shipments to any destination worldwide. Our certification is renewed annually through independent inspection by USDA-accredited auditors.
NWPCA Membership & Standards
As an active member of the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association, we adhere to the industry's highest standards for pallet design, manufacturing, and recycling. Our participation includes involvement in the NWPCA's Pallet Design System program and their annual safety benchmarking initiative, which helps us measure our safety performance against national peers.
Oregon DEQ Environmental Compliance
Our operations comply with all Oregon Department of Environmental Quality regulations for wood processing, dust emissions, and waste management. We undergo annual DEQ inspections and have maintained a clean compliance record since our founding. Our wood grinding and mulch operations meet all state air quality standards without exception.
Sustainable Business Certification
Pallets Reuse holds the Oregon Sustainability Award, recognizing our zero-landfill operations and circular economy business model. We also participate in the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability's Business Energy Solutions program, which has helped us reduce facility energy consumption by 28% since 2020 through lighting upgrades, equipment optimization, and behavioral changes.
Awards & Recognition
We do not chase awards, but we are honored when our work is recognized by the organizations and communities we serve.
Portland Business Journal Fastest Growing Companies
Named to the Portland Business Journal's list of the 50 fastest-growing private companies in Oregon for the third consecutive year, reflecting our sustained 25%+ annual revenue growth since 2020.
NWPCA Innovation Award
Recognized by the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association for our pilot of AI-powered pallet condition assessment technology, which improved intake processing speed by 40%.
Oregon Green Business of the Year
Awarded by the Oregon Business Council for demonstrating that environmental responsibility and business growth are mutually reinforcing, citing our zero-landfill model and fleet modernization.
Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics
This award recognizes companies that demonstrate exemplary ethics and integrity in all business dealings. Our transparent grading system and pricing practices were cited as key factors.
Oregon Sustainability Award
Received from the Governor's Office in recognition of ten years of zero-landfill operations, our community recycling program, and the estimated 8 million board feet of lumber saved over the company's first decade.
Portland Chamber Small Business Excellence Award
Honored by the Portland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce for outstanding growth, community engagement, and job creation, with particular recognition of our youth apprenticeship program.
Our Partnerships
We believe in the power of collaboration. Our partnerships extend across industries, community organizations, and educational institutions, each one strengthening our ability to deliver on our mission.
Industry Partners
Pacific Northwest Lumber Cooperative
We partner with the PNLC to source sustainably harvested lumber for new pallet construction when recycled materials are not sufficient. This relationship ensures that even our new pallets have a responsible supply chain behind them.
Cascadia Waste Solutions
Our partnership with Cascadia enables us to channel wood waste from their construction debris streams into our mulch and biomass programs, increasing the total volume of wood we divert from landfills beyond just pallets.
GreenFleet Northwest
Working with GreenFleet on our fleet electrification strategy, including charging infrastructure planning, vehicle selection, and driver training for electric commercial vehicles.
Community & Education Partners
Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East
Our annual volunteer partnership puts our team on build sites, and we donate repurposed lumber from irreparable pallets for use in affordable housing construction projects.
Portland Community College
We work with PCC's logistics and supply chain management program to provide internship opportunities, guest lectures, and facility tours that expose students to the realities of sustainable supply chain operations.
Oregon Food Bank
As the Food Bank's preferred pallet supplier, we provide food-grade pallets at cost for their distribution operations, ensuring safe and sanitary transport of donated food across the state.
Community Involvement
Being a good business means being a good neighbor. Here is how we invest in the communities that have supported us since day one.
Environmental Giving
Every quarter, we donate over 12 tons of clean, pesticide-free wood mulch to community gardens, urban farms, and school gardening programs across the Portland metro area. Our mulch program began informally in 2014 when a local community garden coordinator asked if we had any leftover wood chips. Today, we supply mulch to more than 30 gardens and farms, helping them suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, and build healthier growing environments without chemical inputs.
We also participate in the Willamette River cleanup initiative each spring, deploying a team of volunteers and providing logistical support for the collection and hauling of debris. Our trucks have helped remove over 15 tons of waste from riverbanks since we began participating in 2017.
Workforce & Youth Programs
Our youth apprenticeship program, launched in 2018, provides paid, hands-on training in woodworking, logistics, and business operations to young adults aged 18 to 24. Apprentices spend six months rotating through our production, logistics, and customer service departments, gaining real-world skills and industry certifications. To date, 12 apprentices have completed the program, and three of them now hold full-time positions at Pallets Reuse.
We also partner with local workforce development organizations to provide employment opportunities for individuals re-entering the workforce after incarceration. We believe everyone deserves a second chance, and our industry is well-suited to providing meaningful, skill-building work that leads to long-term career stability.
A Brief Timeline
The highlights from over fifteen years of growth, innovation, and commitment to sustainable pallet solutions.
The Beginning
Founded in a small yard in Southeast Portland with just two employees and a pickup truck.
First Expansion
Moved to a larger facility and added our first dedicated recycling line. Reached 100K pallets annually.
Heat Treatment Certified
Invested in ISPM-15 heat treatment capabilities, opening international shipping markets for our customers.
Regional Growth
Expanded delivery service to cover Portland, Seattle, Eugene, and the broader Pacific Northwest.
Half Million Milestone
Surpassed 500,000 pallets processed in a single year. Launched our sustainability reporting initiative.
Ready to Work With Us?
Whether you need to buy, sell, or recycle pallets, our team is ready to deliver the personalized service and sustainable solutions your business deserves.