Brent McClendon, president of the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association… Wood pallets and packaging are a great success story when it comes to recycling and sustainability. Ninety-five percent of wood pallets are recycled at their end of their life cycle, according to a study by the U.S. Forest Service. The wood fiber is reclaimed and recycled to make mulch, biofuel, animal bedding, and other products. That 95% recycling rate is better than other common packaging materials. The rate for paper and paperboard is 75%. Steel is 72%, aluminum is 38%, and glass is 32%. The recycling rate for plastic is only 14%. More than nine billion board feet of lumber is used annually to produce pallets – 43% of U.S. hardwood production, and 15% of softwood production. …Pallet production continues to grow, a reflection of the U.S. economy. …The wood packaging industry… is a $31 billion industry that provides jobs to more than 173,000 people.