Using The Pellet Mill For Processing Wood Pallets

Wood waste can be an issue and a cost for some business, however it can a potential opportunity for others. For instance we receive a lot of enquiries about processing wood pallets into fuel pellets. Wood pallets which are used for logistics get damaged and can no longer be used. For some companies it is procedure to use a wood pallet only once as they cannot guarantee its strength on repeated use. Some people are very interested in processing this wood waste through a pellet mill. While yes this is definitely possible and in some cases a very good idea there are limitations and issues you need to consider. First not all of this wood should be processed though a pellet mill as it may have been chemically treated. A pellet fuel made from chemically treated wood will not pass the required standards due to the combustion emissions which they would generate.

If the wood has not be chemically treated it could be reduced in size and used in the pellet mill to make good quality fuel pellets. However the other issue you need to deal with is nails. You cannot let a nail enter the hammer mill or pellet mill. A metal object in a hammer mill may damage the machine, however it is more likely to cause a spark which could easily start a fire in the dry milled sawdust. If a piece of metal enters the pellet mill the costs of repair can be very significant. The gap between the roller and die in the pellet mill is just 1mm. A piece of metal from a nail would either damage the surface of the die or rollers, or potential could break a bearing or gear. So while processing wood pallets in the pellet mill is a definite opportunity there are several issues that you need to deal with to make the process safe.