Rainwater harvesting tank (single 1000 L), built from a recycled IBC tote
A single recycled 1,000 L IBC holds roughly five to eight times more water than a retail rain barrel of similar street price, so one unit replaces a row of barrels and their fittings. Reusing an existing food-grade bladder also avoids the embodied carbon of moulding a new tank.
Recycled IBC
Reuses a durable, standardised container. Diverts it from scrap and avoids new-material carbon.
a 200 L poly rain barrel
A purpose-built product — bought new, moulded or fabricated from virgin material.
A single recycled 1,000 L IBC holds roughly five to eight times more water than a retail rain barrel of similar street price, so one unit replaces a row of barrels and their fittings. Reusing an existing food-grade bladder also avoids the embodied carbon of moulding a new tank. That advantage is real for this job specifically — not a blanket claim that a tote is best for everything.
Suitability & safety
This is a water- or contact-adjacent use. Use only a documented previous-food-use bladder that has been properly cleaned; never use a non-food or unknown-history tote for it.
For any water-holding reuse, shield the bladder from sunlight to prevent algae, fit food-safe fittings, and rinse thoroughly before first use.