Local Pickup — Peoria, IL
Pick up from our yard — email ahead to schedule loading. Bring your own truck, straps and blocks. We help load with the forklift.
Varies by build · Garden / Off-Grid / Aquaponics
Upcycled Creations
Rain harvesters, planters, compost systems and hydroponic rigs built from retired totes.
In a nutshell
When a tote can no longer safely hold industrial liquids, we give it a third life. Our upcycled line turns retired tanks into rainwater harvesters, self-watering planters, compost tumblers, aquaponics beds and off-grid water stations.
Best for
Rain harvestingCommunity gardensHomesteadsEducation
Eco note: Upcycling squeezes every last year of usefulness out of a tank before a single gram is ever recycled or landfilled.
When a tote can no longer safely hold industrial liquids, we give it a third life instead of a shredder. Our upcycled line turns retired tanks into rainwater harvesters, self-watering planters, compost tumblers, aquaponics beds and off-grid water stations — squeezing every last year of usefulness out of a tank before a single gram is ever recycled or landfilled.
Every build reuses the original cage as a structural frame, so the piece is sturdy, moveable on a pallet jack, and built to last another decade. We build to order and can even etch your logo into the cage for schools, community gardens and branded installations.
| Capacity | Varies by build |
|---|---|
| Cage & pallet | Original cage repurposed as structural frame |
| Rain kit | 275 gal + first-flush diverter + spigot |
| Planter | Cut-top raised bed with wicking base |
| Compost | Rotating drum on reclaimed frame |
| Aquaponics | Grow-bed + sump twin-tote set |
| Finish | UV-shielded, food-safe options |
| Available grades | Garden, Off-Grid, Aquaponics |
The end of the line is the start of a garden
Not every tote can be re-bottled forever. Rather than shred a still-solid tank, our makers cut, plumb and reframe it into something a school, homestead or community garden can use for another decade.
Built to order
Want a matched pair for aquaponics, a heated winter rain store, or ten planters for a school program? We build to spec and can etch your logo into the cage.
Reuse-first promise: if a reconditioned tank can do your job safely, we'll recommend it over new — every time.
Fittings & lids
Every tote ships with a valve. Here's how to spec the right one.
Valve & fitting options
| Outlet thread | 2 in S60x6 coarse buttress — the universal IBC standard |
|---|---|
| Butterfly valve | Standard on most reconditioned tanks; 1/4-turn open/close |
| Ball valve | Higher-cycle alternative; stainless or polypropylene body |
| Camlock (Type C/E) | S60x6 → camlock for fast-connect filling and dispensing |
| Garden hose | S60x6 → 3/4 in GHT, male or female, for gravity dispensing |
| NPT | S60x6 → 1 in or 2 in NPT for pump suction and fixed-pipe connections |
| Seal — EPDM | For water, food products and mild chemistry; food-grade default |
| Seal — Viton | For solvents, fuels and aggressive acids; specify at order |
Lid & cap options
| 6 in vented cap | Allows gravity drain without vacuum lock — the go-to for open dispensing |
|---|---|
| 6 in solid cap | For pressurized, transported or sealed-fermentation applications |
| Tamper-evident | Security strip required for regulated or export cargo |
| Breather vent | For tall-neck or closed-loop setups where pressure equalization matters |
Need a different adapter or specialty valve? Browse all accessories →
This product's fittings
Standard and available options for Upcycled Creations
| Rain-kit spigot | Brass 3/4 in hose bib with screen and first-flush fitting |
|---|---|
| Planter drain | 1/2 in bulkhead with wicking mesh for self-watering bed |
| Aquaponics siphon | Bell siphon or standpipe/elbow for auto-flood-and-drain beds |
| Compost vent | Mesh vent cap on drum tumbler for aerobic decomposition |
| UV-shielding wrap | White or opaque wrap over the bottle for outdoor longevity |
Delivery & freight
Pickup, pallet or truckload — we deliver to your dock.
LTL Freight
We palletize and band for standard 96/102-inch LTL trailers across Illinois and the Midwest. Standard lead time 3–5 business days. We prepare the BOL.
Full Truckload (FTL)
40 totes fit a standard 48-ft dry van in two rows of 20. Our best per-unit rate. We schedule to your dock on your timeline.
All freight quotes are included in your emailed price. No surprise accessorial fees, no fuel-surcharge guessing. Every number is in writing before you commit.
Where it's used
Common use cases
Rainwater harvesting
A 275-gallon capture kit with first-flush diverter and spigot, ready to water a garden without a utility connection.
Raised-bed planters
Cut-top wicking beds that give community gardens and schools a durable, elevated growing space.
Compost systems
Rotating drum tumblers on reclaimed frames that turn yard and food waste into soil.
Aquaponics rigs
Matched grow-bed and sump twin-tote sets for closed-loop fish-and-vegetable growing.
Industries we serve
Community gardensSchools & educationHomesteads & off-gridUrban agricultureMunicipal green programsLandscapingBreweries & farmsEvent & pop-up
Safety & UN markings
What the markings mean — and when you need them.
Reading a UN mark: UN 31HA1/Y/275L
| 31 | IBC container type per UN standards |
|---|---|
| H | Plastic (HDPE) inner receptacle |
| A | Rigid outer body (steel cage) |
| 1 | Free-standing (no outer packaging needed) |
| Y | Packing group II — medium-danger liquids |
| 275L | Maximum gross mass or capacity in liters |
When is UN certification required?
- Regulated hazardous liquids classified as DOT Packing Group I, II or III
- International shipments where customs or the receiving country mandates UN marking
- Carrier requirements for flammable, corrosive or toxic liquids in bulk
- Any cargo where your SDS requires a UN-rated container
Not required for: food-grade and industrial totes used for non-regulated, non-hazmat liquids — which covers the vast majority of our customers.
Safety notes for Upcycled Creations
- Use only food-safe base tanks for edible growing, brewing or rainwater for human consumption.
- Apply UV-shielding wrap or paint to any tote in permanent outdoor service — UV degrades HDPE in 2–5 years unprotected.
- First-flush diverters are strongly recommended for roof-collected rainwater; the first inch of rain carries the most debris.
- Label all upcycled pieces with their former contents (even if food-safe) so future owners know the history.
- Inspect cage welds and frame annually; outdoor steel corrodes faster than indoor-stored tanks.
Documentation
What ships with every unit — and what you can request.
Always included
- Prior-contents log
- Grade tag (Rinsed / Industrial / Food Grade / Rebottled / New)
- Pressure-test pass record
- Visual inspection pass
- Valve and cap fitted and tested
Available on request
- Wash-cycle certificate
- COA for rebottled units
- UN certification copy
- Chain-of-custody form for food-safety audits
- Bill of lading with grade and lot number
Just ask in your order email — no extra cost for documentation.
How we prepare it
Every unit, the same rigor
Select a retired tank
We start with tanks that can no longer hold liquid but whose cage and structure are still solid.
Cut & plumb
Bottles are cut, sealed and fitted with spigots, diverters or siphons for the intended build.
Reframe
The original cage becomes the structural frame — sturdy, square and forklift-moveable.
Finish to spec
UV-shielding, food-safe options, and optional logo etching for branded or educational installs.
Buying tips
Get the right tank the first time
- Tell us the build (rain, planter, compost, aquaponics) and any size or finish constraints — everything is made to order.
- For edible growing, request food-safe finishes and food-grade base tanks.
- Order matched pairs for aquaponics so grow-bed and sump volumes balance.
- Ask about logo etching for schools, community programs and branded sites.
- Add UV shielding for anything living outdoors year-round.
How it compares: Versus recycling a retired tank: upcycling extracts another decade of use before any material is reprocessed — reuse at the very top of the waste hierarchy. Versus buying purpose-built garden products: far cheaper, far greener, and built on a cage that would otherwise have been scrapped.
Care & handling
Six rules that keep a tote working — and people safe.
- Keep totes shaded and covered — UV degrades HDPE over time; white or opaque covers dramatically extend bottle life.
- Label every tank with the current product, date filled and grade — never rely on prior labels.
- Flush the outlet valve before connecting to your line to clear any residue from the valve body.
- Use a pallet jack or forklift for all moves — never tip or roll a full IBC tote.
- Store full totes upright and flat on a stable, level surface; tilting puts stress on the cage welds.
- Return empties to us — the cage and pallet stay in service and you close the loop.
The circular loop — in six words
Use it. Return it. Repeat it.
Every empty you send back to us is a cage and pallet that stays in service, a bottle that gets a new life, and a step that keeps material out of the landfill. The loop only closes if everyone closes it.
Upcycled Creations — FAQs
What can you build from a retired tote?
Rainwater harvesters, self-watering raised-bed planters, compost tumblers and bins, aquaponics grow-bed/sump sets, and off-grid water and wash stations. Most builds are made to order.
Are upcycled totes food-safe for growing?
For edible growing we start with food-grade base tanks and food-safe finishes. Tell us it's for food and we'll spec accordingly.
Can you add our logo?
Yes — we can etch a logo into the steel cage, which is popular for schools, community gardens and branded installations.
How long do upcycled pieces last?
The reclaimed cage is built to endure, so with UV protection a piece typically serves another decade or more outdoors.
Related reading
From the IBC Journal
Let’s move some totes
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