As one consideration in the disappearance of recyclable materials, the loss of reusable pallets and containers costs industry billions of dollars every year around the world. Many of these lost or stolen assets may be reused by other businesses, sold to recyclers, or landfilled.
Simply put, we might say that this loss is due to ineffective asset management programs, but such a statement encompasses the various components of a successful program. Such ingredients include executive sponsorship, program leadership, an effective tracking and inventory system, asset protection, staff training, and clear expectations of trading partners.
This article looks at one of the basic opportunities for theft - unprotected assets. The picture above shows reusable beer pallets left on the sidewalk outside of a neighborhood pub in Surrey, British Columbia. Such pallets may have value to thieves, who could steal them to sell to recyclers, or other end users.
