The afterlife — totes that became something else.

When a tote can't hold a regulated fluid anymore, it can be cut, plumbed and rebuilt into something useful for the garden, the farm, or the classroom. Partner suppliers in our network can quote these builds.

Second life

Request a repurposed build.

Fill in a few details — quantity, product type, the work you need done. A partner supplier follows up with you.

Rain catchment systems

A 275 or 330-gallon caged tote, top-cut with a fine mesh, a first-flush diverter, an overflow port, and a 2" spigot at the base. Sits under a downspout and can store enough water for a typical urban garden through a dry spell.

275 gal rain catcher (basic)
275 gal with first-flush diverter + spigot kit
330 gal with stand & double overflow
Tote stand (raised and leveled)

Raised garden beds

A tote cut horizontally, opened, and reset into a 48 × 40 inch raised bed (roughly 18 inches deep) — enough for tomatoes, peppers, squash, or a herb garden.

Standard raised bed (no liner)
Lined with food-grade EPDM
Double-bed (two stacked, half-cut)

Hydroponic / dutch-bucket builds

Hydroponic builds for home and small commercial growers. A typical build includes a reservoir tote, 6–12 dutch buckets cut from secondary totes, and 1" PVC return plumbing.

Starter hydroponic kit (6 buckets + reservoir)
Twelve-bucket commercial-style

Planters

Half-tote planter (cut, deburred, drilled)
Quarter-tote planter set (4 from a single tote)
Tall planter (uncut tote with top removed)

Education kits

Pre-cut tote panels are popular with schools and maker spaces for art and STEM projects. What's available depends on what totes suppliers have on hand — request a quote with what you need.

Pickup and delivery

Pricing, pickup and delivery options for repurposed builds vary by supplier. Tell us where you are in Cleveland or Northeast Ohio and we'll pass your request to partner suppliers who can quote it.

Repurposed goods — totes with second lives

The long-form file.

Cut and fitted IBC builds for rainwater harvesting, raised garden beds, aquaponics and small-shop secondary containment. Some partner suppliers make these from totes that aren't suited to fluid service; availability varies.

Deep dive

The detail behind the surface.

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Common builds

Rain catchment kit. Tote with a screened inlet, sealed top hatch, outlet adapter for a garden hose and overflow plumbing. Often paired with a first-flush diverter under a downspout.

Raised garden bed cut. Tote cut horizontally into two halves with drainage holes, giving two shallow beds with the cage's footprint.

Aquaponics starter. Cut tote with a grow bed, pump and return plumbing. Long-form build guide: aquaponics from an IBC.

Secondary containment. Cut-down tote used as a spill pan under a drum or small tank.

For any food-growing or drinking-water use, ask what the tote previously held before you buy.