How to Recycle Green Dumpsters

A green garbage or recycling dumpster is a waste-disposal container with a body made of green-painted metal or green plastic and one or more metal or plastic lids. Over time, damage and/or corrosion from age and use may prompt you to purchase a new dumpster. As with any dumpster, you can recycle a green dumpster by scraping it and having its metal or plastic components recycled; you can also recycle it by reusing it for some other purpose.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask a representative at your local municipal waste office or metal recycling plant for information about recycling green dumpsters in your area. If you can recycle through a local facility, find out if pickup services are available or if you must drop the dumpster off and whether fees are involved. Follow the directions given to you to wait for pickup or to drop off the dumpster.

• 2

  Create a ground-level or above-ground garden with a dumpster. For example, to create a ground-level garden, dig a hole large enough to hold the metal dumpster; insert the dumpster with its top at ground level. (If you want your garden to have a border, place the dumpster two to five inches above ground level.) Fill it to ground level with dirt and add whatever plants you've chosen; the dumpster will act as a barrier against burrowing tree roots and animals. For a completely above-ground garden, move the dumpster to the desired area, fill it with dirt and start planting.

• 3

  Turn the dumpster into a small pool to cool off in. Hire a pool contractor to look at your specific dumpster and make recommendations for cleaning, disinfecting and sealing its interior and exterior surfaces, adding a pool liner and sand and keeping it clean while in use. As with a garden, you can bury it to make a ground-level pool.

• 4

  Use the dumpster in a sculpture or other indoor or outdoor art installation. For example, turn a smaller dumpster upside down and use it as the base of a sculpture. Another example: Paint the interior of the dumpster a light or dark color and then lay the dumpster on its long side. Use it as a presentation box by placing objects inside it; illuminate the display with a light behind or in front of the objects.

• 5

  Donate the dumpster to a charity that can't afford to rent or purchase one. Contact local charities and ask if any needs a dumpster for trash or other use. For example, you may find a charity that needs one for trash or to hold bulk-clothing donations before sorting.