55-gallon drums are the most common type of storage barrels for transporting and storing liquids and other materials. There are several innovative ways drums can be repurposed and used in entrepreneurship, including making unique furniture, aquaponics systems, art and sculptures, BBQ grills and smokers, and musical instruments.
How Entrepreneurs Repurpose 55-Gallon Drums
Different types of 55-gallon drums, whether plastic or steel, green or blue, have found innovative applications in various entrepreneurial ventures. Entrepreneurs continue to find endless possibilities for upcycling 55-gallon drums for sustainable and innovative purposes for business and personal projects. Diverse applications, such as rainwater collection systems, vertical gardens, or floating docks, demonstrate the versatility and potential of 55-gallon drums in entrepreneurial and creative ventures, especially in recycling and sustainability.
Unique Furniture Making
Entrepreneurs have transformed 55-gallon drums into unique pieces of furniture, including chairs, tables, bookcases, and storage cabinets. These unique furniture pieces often have an industrial or retro appeal and are popular in modern urban settings and homes. Drums can transform into customized storage solutions for both personal and commercial use, including secure bins or weather-resistant outdoor storage.
Rainwater Harvesting Systems
In regions where water conservation is crucial, 55-gallon drums can transform into rainwater harvesting systems. Drums or barrels can collect and store rainwater from rooftops. Rainwater collection systems are useful for gardening, flushing toilets, and, with proper preparation, even for drinking.
Vertical Gardens
Urban gardening initiatives use these drums as part of vertical garden systems. Vertical gardens, also known as moss walls, green walls, or living walls, are gardens vertically supported by a container. They can be cut and modified to grow plants, making them ideal for city dwellers or apartments with limited space.
Aquaponics and Hydroponics Systems
Entrepreneurs in sustainable agriculture often use 55-gallon drums to create aquaponics and hydroponics systems. These soilless systems create symbiotic environments for growing both plants and fish, maximizing resource efficiency and reducing dangerous environmental effects. They can also be repurposed for small garden ponds or water features, like fountains, another DIY home garden project for sustainable living.
Barbecue Smokers and Grills
Food entrepreneurs and homeowners have continued experimenting with 55-gallon drums to turn them into unique, urban barbecue smokers and grills. These custom-made outdoor cooking appliances have enhanced the quality of grilling on the go and at home. Creating BBQ grills and smokers out of drum barrels has also become popular in the food truck and outdoor catering scenes.
Floating Docks and Rafts
In waterfront areas, 55-gallon plastic drums have been used to create floating docks or rafts for small-scale fishing or recreational activities. Building a floating dock with plastic barrels showcases their buoyancy and durability for homes and businesses.
Art and Sculptures
Artists use these drums as instruments for creating unique large-scale sculptures and installations. These creative and sustainable art pieces often promote a message of recycling and sustainability in the art industry. Artists will utilize either the entire drum barrel or pieces of it to create metal wall art decor, standing sculptures, and other types of oil drum art.
Emergency Shelters
Innovators have used 55-gallon drums to construct emergency shelters, particularly in disaster-prone areas. 55-gallon drums, both steel and plastic, can be turned into building blocks or as water and waste storage units. These innovative projects can be significantly cost-effective and reliable in emergency situations.
Drum Circles and Musical Instruments
When it comes to the realm of music and community events, 55-gallon drums can be easily converted into musical instruments. Utilizing drum barrels for drum circles is particularly trendy in cultural and educational settings.
Green Waste Management and Composting
Entrepreneurs understand the importance of sustainability when using 55-gallon drums for waste management solutions. Turning drum barrels into large-scale compost bins helps in organic waste decomposition and soil enrichment. Compost bins out of 55-gallon drums are another eco-friendly and cost-effective means of collecting and composting waste. Whether it’s turning leftover food and yard trimmings into organic materials to positively impact and protect the environment, composting is an excellent venture for entrepreneurs.
The Endless Possibilities of Upcycling Drums in Business Ventures
When it comes to repurposing and upcycling drum containers, the possibilities are endless. A standard storage container like a 55-gallon drum can be transformed to serve various practical, environmental, and community-enhancing purposes. Drums can be incorporated into urban infrastructure for planters, benches, or even as functional and aesthetic barriers. You can repurpose steel drums as building materials in alternative housing, such as walls and roofs, or as foundational supports in innovative architecture. They can also create cost-effective, durable playground equipment for children. Plastic or metal drums can be transformed into swings, climbing structures, or tunnels in community parks. They can be constructed into shelters or feeding troughs for animals, which is particularly useful and cost-friendly in farms or animal shelters.
If properly developed, drums can transform into portable toilets or shower units. This eco-friendly project is instrumental in outdoor events, camping sites, or areas lacking sanitation infrastructure. Goal posts, hurdles, or other sports equipment for community sports fields or school playgrounds can also be created from 55-gallon drums. Filled drums as thermal batteries in passive solar heating systems can store heat during the day and release it at night. Steel and plastic drums can help organize and store art supplies, tools, or workshop materials, especially in community centers or schools. Different types of 55-gallon drums can be used for hazardous material containment in industries or as safety barriers in construction sites.
References:
- Lawn Love, 2023. What is a Vertical Garden?
- trees.com, 2022. Hydroponics vs. Aquaponics – A Complete, and Honest Comparison.
- Waste Management. Organics Recycling & Composting.
- The Owner Builder Network, 2015. 55- Awesome Gallon Metal Drum Project Ideas.
