Old Trash Cans for Rainwater Collection

If changes in trash collection rules have made your old garbage can obsolete or you simply have a spare can, put it to good use collecting rainwater. A 32-gallon plastic trash can is ideal for this, and if it has wheels, you can even move it as needed, according to Yankee Magazine’s fun book Panty Hose, Hot Peppers, Tea Bags, and more for the Garden.

The easiest way to turn a garbage can into a rain collector is simply to tuck it underneath a gutter with the downspout removed and fill ‘er up. You can get a little more efficient by positioning the downspout so it goes into the can. Keep debris out of the rain barrel by cutting an opening in the lid a bit larger than the downspout and feeding the downspout through the hole.

To prevent mosquitoes from making a home in the barrel and to keep even small leaves out, stuff an old pair of pantyhose into the gap between the downspout and the lid.

For more convenience, install a plastic spigot, available at home improvement stores, in the barrel. Drill a hole in the side of the barrel at least 12 to 18 inches above the ground–high enough to set a watering can underneath. Install the spigot according to the product directions.

If you want to get really high-tech, add an overflow barrel. Find a piece of leftover tubing of nearly any sort. Cut a hole in the side of the garbage can a few inches from the top; make sure the tubing fits very snugly in the hole. If you’re worried that water might seep out around the tubing, caulk it with some leftover exterior or bathroom caulk.

Set a second garbage can (this one doesn’t have to be quite as large) next to the first one. Cut a hole in its side an inch or two lower than the hole in the first can, and push the tubing through.

Adapted from Yankee Magazine’s Panty Hose, Hot Peppers, Tea Bags, and more for the Garden: 1,001 Ingenious Ways to Use Common Household Items to Control Weeds, Beat Pests, Cook Compost, Solve Problems, Make Tricky Jobs Easy, and Save Time (Yankee Books, 2005).

Read more: Home, Reduce, Recycle & Reuse

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Angelica P.

9:16AM PST on Nov 14, 2010

Cool idea!

send a green star

Gal j.

7:21PM PDT on May 26, 2010

Another poorly thought out rain barrel design - you need to check out a simpler and better design from this company: http://www.aquabarrel.com/

Ellinor S.

12:40PM PDT on May 5, 2010

Thank you

Jan S.

9:00PM PDT on Jul 13, 2008

If you use plastic garbage cans for catching rain water, make sure they are round. I bought rectangle shaped ones with wheels to make it easier to move and they popped their lids off when full with the weight of the water pushing out.

Lorraine M.

1:36PM PDT on Jul 12, 2008

I live in the Seattle area and have been doing this for a few years. Just try rolling one if it's full of water, though! WAY too heavy to move. We keep the top on when it's not raining to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

Toni M.

2:29PM PDT on Jul 9, 2008

Reminds me of my great Grandmother who lived in Plant City, Florida. She kept wooden barrels filled with rainwater runoff and always washed her hair with it, saying it made her hair soft. It was used to water her gardens. Back then nobody had lawns -- in fact, if a blade of grass popped up, it got pulled and then the area was swept clean again. I'm not that old either! GGM kept screen over the top of the barrels. My skin loves rainwater!!