In Sydney, sound Australian standard pallets are collected free once you have between 50 and 100 of them, and one recycler pays cash for good stock. Damaged, non-standard and pooled pallets are the problem: they attract a service fee, a paid collection, or a trip to a transfer station where the 2026-27 NSW metropolitan levy adds $180.20 to every tonne before the gate fee.
Sydney pallet recyclers and their published terms
| Recycler | Where | Free collection condition | Fees and exclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| A2Z Pallets | Western, northern, eastern and south-east Sydney (Wetherill Park, North Ryde, Randwick, Port Botany and others) | "Free pickup is available for undamaged pallets in quantities above 100" | Damaged pallets "can be collected for a small service fee"; quotes within 24 hours |
| Marks Pallets | Sydney metro, plus Wollongong and the Central Coast on request | "No pickup fees charged - Sydney and Surrounds"; buys standard 1 and 2 tonne, EPAL Euro and plastic pallets in quantities over 50 | Pays "cash for good quality pallets"; poor quality is not bought |
| Palleco | 31-35 Heathcote Rd, Moorebank | Published policy: "complimentary pickup for standard 1165 x 1165 pallets" | Paid collection for non-standard sizes; a Sydney mulching service for pallets beyond repair |
| Airtasker | Marketplace | None; taskers quote per job, including disassembly | Suits small one-off lots below recycler minimums |
The pattern is consistent: a sound standard pallet is worth collecting and sometimes worth paying for, anything else is a cost. If your stack is mostly export or Euro sizes, Marks Pallets buys EPAL Euro in quantities over 50 and Palleco charges for non-standard collection, so sort before you ring. Blue CHEP and red Loscam pallets belong to the pool and are refused by every recycler; the CHEP and Loscam guide covers how to return them without a compensation charge.
What broken pallets cost in Sydney
NSW has the highest landfill levy in the country. The EPA confirmed the 2026-27 rates in December 2025: $180.20 a tonne in the metropolitan levy area, which covers Sydney, the Illawarra and the Hunter, and $103.80 a tonne in the regional levy area. A timber pallet weighs around 30 kilograms, so a tonne of broken pallets is roughly 33 units and carries $180.20 of levy before the facility's gate fee, transport and labour. That arithmetic is why a paid recycler collection, which Palleco describes as "far more economical than hiring a skip bin", beats a skip for pallets, and why pallets should never go into a general waste bin where you pay for the air between the boards.
| Route for unsaleable pallets | What you pay for | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| Paid recycler collection (Palleco, A2Z damaged-pallet fee) | Collection only; pallets are repaired, mulched or made into particleboard | Any lot the free services refuse |
| Skip bin | Bin hire, transport, gate fee including $180.20 a tonne levy | Mixed timber and packaging waste from a clean-out |
| Transfer station drop-off | Gate fee by weight or volume, levy included | Small lots with your own truck |
How to prepare a Sydney pallet collection
- Photograph the stack and count by type; A2Z quotes within 24 hours from photos and Marks Pallets prices on quality.
- Separate pooled pallets and damaged pallets into their own stacks so the free collection is not refused on arrival.
- Have forklift access at the agreed time; most collectors price on load speed.
- Below 50 pallets, either hold stock until you clear the minimum or use a paid collection rather than paying levy at a transfer station.
Sydney cardboard is the other stream worth checking while you are in the yard: baled cardboard has a buyer and loose cardboard has a cost, see cardboard bale prices and the baler versus loose collection comparison.
Where the money actually leaks: the bins next to the pallet stack
Pallet collection is the one waste stream most Sydney businesses get for free, so it is rarely where the savings are. The general waste bin, the cardboard bin and the front-lift bulk bin beside the pallet stack are where the bill grows: bin rental, fuel levies, contamination charges and annual increases that nobody re-tenders. Bundle Waste is a Melbourne-based commercial waste cost broker that works with businesses Australia-wide. We audit your current invoice free, benchmark every line against provider rates, negotiate the contract, and are paid only from the savings we find. If we find nothing, you pay nothing. Start with a free waste audit, and see how every line on a waste invoice is built before you sign anything new.
Sources
- A2Z Pallets — Services (Sydney) (accessed 2026-09-03)
- Marks Pallets — Sydney pallet supplier and buyer (accessed 2026-09-03)
- Palleco — Pallet collection Sydney (Moorebank) (accessed 2026-09-03)
- Palleco — Recycled pallets Adelaide (free standard-pallet pickup policy) (accessed 2026-09-03)
- Airtasker — Pallet collection Sydney (accessed 2026-09-03)
- NSW EPA — Waste levy rates for 2026-27 (media release, 23 Dec 2025) (accessed 2026-09-03)
Frequently asked questions
Is pallet collection free in Sydney?
Who pays cash for pallets in Sydney?
What does it cost to dump pallets at a Sydney tip?
Can I put pallets in my commercial general waste bin?
Will Sydney recyclers take CHEP or Loscam pallets?
Does Bundle Waste arrange pallet collection in Sydney?
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