Looking for plastic 55gallon barrels? (for free)

dmoore714

Active Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2009
Location
Americus, GA
I'm working on a volunteer/fundraising project for a group of youth in Statesville. We're going to make rain barrels, and then sell them to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. I have all the tools and plumbing I need. Just looking for the barrels. They need to be 55 gallon, preferably plastic, with lids. They need to look decent and be able to hold water. Any color will do (white would be ideal). And because they will be used to collect rainwater for landscaping... they can't have any oil or chemical residue on the inside.

FREE is the key word. I can travel anywhere in the greater Charlotte area to pick them up, but I dont have the budget to pay for them. Fortunately, because this is a Habitat project, I can offer a nonprofit donation receipt for tax purposes.

I'm looking for 5 to 10 barrels to start. If this takes off, I may need more in the fall.
Reply to this post or send me a PM if you can help. Thanks.
 
I've seen that place in Cowpens before. It's on 29, not far from downtown... right? Do you know where his barrels come from? I'm hoping to find some for free, and a bit closer to Statesville. But I'll be down that way in mid-July visiting family in Gaffney. I'll keep it in mind. Thanks
 
"Food grade plastic" is the key for recycled rain barrels... some place here in Raleigh makes them from pickle barrels, I think.

Sounds like a great project! Wish you the best!
 
I suppose the 4 bazillion white and orange barrels around the state roads are off limits, huh.
 
Maybe I can help out a little

Go to a car wash and try to figure out who owns it. We have a friend that had connections with a car wash. He scored us a couple barrels. Although Im not sure that they were 55 gallon though
 
dmoore714 said:
... they can't have any oil or chemical residue on the inside
Click to expand...

95ford150 said:
We have a friend that had connections with a car wash. He scored us a couple barrels
Click to expand...

Having worked in that industry for a few years, I can tell you the contents were likely highly concentrated (= hard to remove 100% of the residue) and usually highly caustic (= one tiny drop will burn your @$$ up). Neither of these are conducive to making rain barrels... garbage cans or scrap drums maybe

I have a connection in GA that gets 55gal. drums (contained 7-UP "syrup") for $10/ea... LMK
 
Caver Dave said:
Having worked in that industry for a few years, I can tell you the contents were likely highly concentrated (= hard to remove 100% of the residue) and usually highly caustic (= one tiny drop will burn your @$$ up). Neither of these are conducive to making rain barrels... garbage cans or scrap drums maybe
Click to expand...
Oops sorry, should have read the post all the way(or twice)
 
Check with a concrete company or a concrete repair vendor. We buy drums of hardener that ship in plastic drums, a good rinse and some soapywater and rain barrels. Check with Kenseal in Charlotte and see where they have sold some hardener, or Guaranteed Supply Company - ask for Doug Saunders and ask for leads on "Euclid Diamond Hard Barrels".

I just filled 4 up with used motor oil and sent off to be recycled, if I come across anymore I'll post up here.
 
Coca-Cola plant in Durham used to give 'em away. I got two last year. You got any soda bottlers near you?

* Wherever you get them, be sure you get "food grade" barrels - anything else may have some nasty stuff in it.
 
there is a place in Statesville I would check first. Its over there near the Bowling ally, right behind that BP gas station across the street. They have a ton stacked up back there.
 
Barrels

PM me. I can get them for you if you don't mind driving up here (14 miles above the NC/VA line). I'm a process engineer at Gatorade so yes these are food grade, but the are blue in color. If your interested just let me know.

Thanks,
Kevin
 
Duke Energy has them for sale at their warehouse, I think on or near Toddville Rd. Go to their website and look for "asset recovery".
 
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