There is a long crack in the rain barrel. No question, the container is no longer usable. Unfortunately, conventional rain barrels are made of plastic, which makes disposal difficult. At least this material does not rot, so the plastic becomes a burden on the environment. You can read about how to dispose of your rain barrel properly and what options are available to you on this page.
How do I dispose of my rain barrel correctly?
To dispose of a rain barrel, shred small plastic barrels and throw them in the trash or arrange a bulk waste collection appointment. Metal bins must be disposed of separately as scrap metal. Contact your local waste disposal office for region-specific regulations.
The material is crucial
Depending on the material your rain barrel is made of, certain disposal regulations apply. If you ignore these rules, you could face a fine.
- Plastic bins
- Metal barrels
Plastic bins
If your copy is a very small plastic rain barrel, you can generally dispose of it with household waste. However, you should first chop up the rain barrel so that it fits easily into the garbage can. Otherwise, arrange a time to collect the bulky waste. In some regions you have to pay for collection. With a bit of luck, you can also hand in your model to a waste disposal facility. Certain plastics are even recyclable. If this is not the case, you will end up living in a landfill from now on.
Metal rain barrels
Metal bins, however, must under no circumstances be disposed of with household waste. If you still try to hide the container among other rubbish, the garbage disposal may even refuse to take it away. Normally the rain barrel is scrapped like scrap metal. Private collection by the waste disposal office is also possible here, as long as your rain barrel weighs less than 100 kg.
Note: The rules for disposing of a trash can vary from region to region. To avoid trouble, if in doubt, you should contact your local waste disposal office.
Alternatives for disposal
Always remember that a rain barrel, even if disposed of legally, always creates waste. How about repurposing the old bin and using it in a different way? Here you can find out, for example, how to plant your rain barrel. If you personally can't find a use for the model, an enthusiast might show interest and buy the barrel from you.