Maya Ellison
Recycling 55-gallon plastic drums is an environmentally-friendly practice that keeps millions of pounds of waste out of landfills annually. Recycling these drums involves cleaning, shredding, melting, and reforming them into new products such as drainage pipes, flower pots, and containers. Proper disposal methods are crucial to prevent environmental pollution, especially since these drums often contain hazardous substances. Professional recycling companies specialize in decontaminating and recycling plastic drums, ensuring safe and sustainable practices. Some companies, like Orlando Drum, offer pick-up services for used drums, while others purchase drums for reprocessing, creating green jobs and supporting sustainability.
Where to recycle 55-gallon plastic drums
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recycling process | Cleaning, shredding, melting, and reforming |
| Materials | High-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP) |
| Environmental impact | Keeps millions of pounds out of landfills |
| Job creation | Creates hundreds of green jobs |
| Raw material | Feedstock for manufacturers |
| Finished products | Drainage pipes, pallets, totes, tanks, tools, and new drums |
| Disposal | Check for hazardous materials, decontaminate, then recycle |
| Professional services | Drumbeaters of America, Orlando Drum, ITP Packaging, Scrap Management |
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What You'll Learn
Companies that buy 55-gallon plastic drums for recycling
Recycling 55-gallon plastic drums is crucial for keeping millions of pounds of waste out of landfills. The recycled drums are transformed into various plastic products, such as drainage pipes, pallets, and tools. While reusing the drums for non-hazardous purposes is an ideal alternative, recycling is the next best option to ensure proper disposal and prevent environmental pollution.
Several companies specialize in recycling 55-gallon plastic drums and offer services to buy these drums for recycling. Here are some examples:
- Orlando Drum and Container: This company provides a comprehensive guide to plastic and steel drum recycling. They specialize in cleaning and recycling industrial-grade drums and intermediate bulk container (IBC) totes. Orlando Drum offers a pickup and delivery service for reusable 55-gallon plastic or steel drums in the Orlando area, with a fee structure based on the number of drums and their condition. They either recondition and resell the drums or clean and recycle them into steel or plastic scrap materials.
- Scrap Management Inc.: This company, founded by Igor Beylin, specializes in the end-of-life stage of 55-gallon poly drums for high-volume generators. They purchase used chemical drums for recycling, but only in truckload quantities, as transporting smaller amounts is not economical. Their recycling process includes shredding, washing, regrinding, remelting, and reprocessing the drums into new, valuable construction products.
- Drumbeaters of America: This company offers a plastic drum recycling system that cuts 55-gallon plastic drums into pieces, allowing for more efficient recycling. They also provide financing solutions to help businesses acquire their equipment without straining cash flow.
- Advance Drum Service: While this company primarily focuses on selling new and reconditioned containers, they also offer an Empty Container Return Program. This program allows customers to safely remove drums and totes from their facilities for environmentally friendly disposal and recycling.
These companies play a vital role in promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impact by purchasing and recycling 55-gallon plastic drums.
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How to prepare 55-gallon plastic drums for recycling
Recycling 55-gallon plastic drums is extremely important for industrial companies and the environment. It helps keep millions of pounds of waste out of landfills and creates hundreds of green jobs.
If you are looking to prepare 55-gallon plastic drums for recycling, there are a few key steps to follow. Firstly, it is important to check the type of plastic the drums are made from. Most 55-gallon drums are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is highly recyclable. However, some drums may be made from polypropylene (PP), which is also recyclable but has different processing requirements.
The next step is to ensure that the drums are empty and free of any hazardous materials or residues. If the drums have been used to store chemicals, these must be removed, and the drums must be decontaminated before they can be recycled or reused. This is a crucial step to prevent environmental and health hazards. Some companies specialize in decontaminating and recycling industrial drums, so reaching out to professionals is an option if you are unsure about the process.
Once the drums are empty and decontaminated, they can be cleaned with soap and water to remove any remaining residues. After cleaning, the drums should be dried thoroughly. If there are any labels or markings on the drums, these should be removed or defaced to protect the privacy of the previous contents.
Finally, you can start to prepare the drums for collection or drop-off at a recycling facility. Contact your local recycling center to inquire about any specific requirements or preparation guidelines they may have. Some centers may charge a fee for the collection of drums, and some may have minimum quantity requirements for pick-up. Alternatively, you can drop off the drums yourself at a nearby recycling facility.
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The environmental impact of recycling 55-gallon plastic drums
Recycling 55-gallon plastic drums has a positive environmental impact. Firstly, it helps keep millions of pounds of waste out of landfills each year. Recycling these drums also creates hundreds of green jobs, contributing to the economy and promoting sustainable practices.
The recycling process typically involves several steps to ensure the drums are properly decontaminated and prepared for reuse or repurposing. This includes cleaning the drums to remove any residues, especially if they previously held hazardous substances or chemicals. This step is crucial to prevent environmental contamination and potential health risks associated with improper disposal.
After cleaning, the drums are typically shredded into small pieces, melted down, and then reformed into new products. This process gives the plastic a new lease of life, reducing the need to manufacture new plastic products from scratch, which can be environmentally damaging. The recycled drums can be transformed into various items, such as drainage pipes, pallets, totes, tanks, tools, and even new drums, showcasing the versatility of recycled materials.
Additionally, recycling 55-gallon plastic drums helps reduce the environmental impact of industrial activities. These drums are commonly used to store solvents, chemicals, and hazardous waste. By recycling them, we can prevent the release of harmful substances into the environment and minimize the carbon footprint associated with the production of new drums.
While recycling is the preferred option, proper disposal methods are crucial if recycling is not feasible. This includes decontaminating the drums, following specific protocols for hazardous waste, and adhering to local regulations to ensure safe disposal and minimize environmental pollution.
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Recycling vs. repurposing 55-gallon plastic drums
Recycling and repurposing are both environmentally conscious ways to deal with 55-gallon plastic drums. Recycling is the more sustainable option, as it keeps millions of pounds of plastic out of landfills and creates green jobs. The recycling process for plastic drums involves cleaning, shredding, melting, and reforming the plastic into new products, such as drainage pipes, pallets, and tools.
However, recycling plastic drums can be uneconomical for smaller quantities, as transportation and processing costs can be high. In such cases, repurposing the drums may be a more viable option. Repurposing involves reusing the drums for a different purpose, such as growing plants, as containers for non-industrial products, or even as a base for a homemade windmill.
It is important to ensure that any hazardous materials or residues are removed from the drums before they are recycled or repurposed. This decontamination process is crucial to prevent environmental and health hazards, as plastic drums are often used to store industrial chemicals and solvents.
Some companies specialize in recycling and repurposing plastic drums, offering pick-up and delivery services for used drums. These companies can ensure that the drums are properly cleaned, shredded, and melted down to create new products, or they may recondition and resell the drums for continued industrial use.
Overall, recycling is the ideal option for 55-gallon plastic drums, but repurposing is a creative and sustainable alternative when recycling is not feasible. Both options help to reduce waste, create new products, and minimize the environmental impact of these large plastic containers.
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Local services that recycle 55-gallon plastic drums
Recycling 55-gallon plastic drums is extremely important for industrial companies and the environment. It helps keep millions of pounds of waste out of landfills and creates hundreds of green jobs.
If you are looking to recycle your 55-gallon plastic drums, there are a few local services that can help. Firstly, it is important to check if your local waste management services offer drum disposal and recycling. Some municipalities provide this service for free, and they will pick up the drums from your location. However, this may depend on the quantity of drums you have, so it is best to contact your local waste management services to inquire about their specific policies.
Additionally, there are private companies that specialise in recycling industrial containers, such as plastic drums. These companies often have specific requirements for the drums they accept, so it is important to review their terms and conditions before submitting a request. For example, The Cary Company offers free drum recycling and disposal services, but they require the drums to be "drip dry" and empty, with all labels intact and legible. They offer full truckload pickup across the United States and have specific recycling facilities in Addison, IL, Pittsburg, PA, Jurupa Valley, CA, and Livermore, CA.
Another company that purchases plastic drums for recycling is Scrap Management, which has a presence in Virginia. They pay top prices for HDPE poly drums and also arrange freight. Similarly, ITP Packaging, based in the UK, specialises in industrial packaging and can support you in disposing of your plastic drums safely. They offer a range of drums and other packaging products and can provide expert health and safety advice.
When recycling 55-gallon plastic drums, it is important to ensure they are properly decontaminated, especially if they have been used to store chemicals. This is crucial to prevent environmental pollution and potential health hazards.
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Frequently asked questions
Recycling 55-gallon plastic drums is extremely important for industrial companies and the environment. It helps keep millions of pounds of waste out of landfills and creates hundreds of green jobs.
The recycling process usually involves cleaning the drums, shredding them into small pieces, then melting and reforming the plastic into new products. You can contact a recycling company to pick up and recycle your drums, or you can reach out to a TSD facility, which may take them at no charge and then resell them.
55-gallon plastic drums are commonly made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP), both highly recyclable materials. Recycled HDPE drums can be transformed into various products, including drainage pipes, pallets, flower pots, tanks, tools, and new drums.
