Are They Free in Your Area ?

[Nyboy]

The blue plastic 55 gallon drums . I used them on a floating dock, every video I watched on youtube said you can get them free at carwashes and other places. No way here I looked and called all over. Cheapest I found them was $35 each. I know alot of people are using them to make rain barrels. Is it a ny thing to charge for them? Good luck getting free 5 gallon pails .

 

[canesisters]

Years ago you could pick up free 5gal pails at any grocey store that had a deli/bakery. Now they are 'required' to throw them away... something about liability. ?
There is a guy locally that sells drums (all sizes - plastic or metal) at all of the chicken swaps. Some of the big blue ones are already set up as rain barrels or waterers. $35 is about the usual price.

 

[Kassaundra]

No, not free here either.

 

[ninnymary]

Of course they are not free in the bay area!

Mary

 

[thistlebloom]

They're about the same price here. But you can still get free buckets at bakeries. One of the local burger chains used to sell their 5 gallon
pickle buckets for a buck including the lid, but now they charge the same as the home improvement stores do for their logo buckets.

 

[digitS']

I used to get the 55gal barrels free.

The hospital has barrels for dialysate in their kidney dialysis centers. They were not reused.

I couldn't think of a lot of use for them.

Steve

 

[baymule]

What bozo thinks that those wonderful, useful for oh so many different things, big blue plastic barrels are FREE???? Please tell that doofus to call 1-800-NOT-HAP'N !!!!!!

I buy food grade plastic buckets with lids at the doughnut shop for $2.00
I have a couple of those blue barrels that I put horse feed in and I paid $35 for each of them. Seems to be the universal price, huh?

 

[flowerweaver]

I get 5 gal pails with lids filled with used coffee grounds from a coffee shop in my minor metro. I use the grounds in my garden. They get dill pickles in them for their deli. I used to get the same ones from a theater, also used for dill pickles. So look for dill pickles!

I think the 55 gal drums are sold, since the hill country has become aware of rainwater collection. I have many 1500 gallon tanks so I haven't needed to price them.

 

[baymule]

@flowerweaver 1500 gallon tanks? Where didja get those? You have your own cistern farm going!

 

[flowerweaver]

@baymule You bet we do! There's nothing like having a dry well for six months to get you serious about collecting what little rain that does fall. Our aim is for 15,000; we're at 5,000. They came from a local rainwater specialist who unfortunately passed away last month. They are commonly sold at area feed stores though.