The Second-Life Tote Project
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Reuse No.046 · Metal Cage — Structures & Fabrication

Dog kennel / animal run panels, built from a recycled IBC tote

Cage panels build a sturdy, ventilated animal run or kennel for far less than a prefab kennel, reusing galvanised steel that resists chewing and weather.

Component
Galvanised steel cage
Indicative price
CAD $60–$140
Replaces
a prefab dog kennel
Alt. cost
CAD $200–$600

Recycled IBC

CAD $60–$140

Reuses a durable, standardised container. Diverts it from scrap and avoids new-material carbon.

vs

a prefab dog kennel

CAD $200–$600

A purpose-built product — bought new, moulded or fabricated from virgin material.

See it in use

Tank Depot — cut tote + cage as animal shelter/run →

A real-world write-up with photos of this reuse in practice.

The honest case

Cage panels build a sturdy, ventilated animal run or kennel for far less than a prefab kennel, reusing galvanised steel that resists chewing and weather. That advantage is real for this job specifically — not a blanket claim that a tote is best for everything.

Suitability & safety

The galvanised cage carries no residue risk from the tote's prior contents, which makes it the most broadly reusable component of any IBC.

Indicative Southern Ontario pricing; confirm locally. Not legal, engineering, or drinking-water certification advice. Verify the tote's prior contents and clean appropriately before reuse.