Colorful Reclaimed Pipe Upcycled Into Garden Planter

October 5, 2012 by Robin Plaskoff Horton

As part of a local recycling project, Barcelona, Spain industrial designer Fabian Andino of Espaibuenrollo reclaimed colorful but otherwise un-reusable and non-disposable PVC pipes, upcycling them into portable planters that can hang on walls or rest on specially-designed racks.

Although good looking, TUBI planters are made from PVC, which can leach over time and would not be usable for growing food. Of all the plastics, PVC plastic or vinyl is the most environmentally damaging. Despite worldwide efforts to ban the production of PVC products, because of their chlorine content existing products with PVC cannot be landfilled or burned. Burning releases an acidic gas along with dioxins, and if landfilled, PVC eventually releases additives which can poison groundwater supplies.

Most of the collected PVC waste, like these pipes, is ‘downcycled’ or used to manufacture products like garden benches and highway sound barriers–or as this recycling project aims to do–planters.

I do applaud the TUBI project, however, for its attempt to recycle these existing plastics and while also discouraging the production of new hazardous materials.

What do you think?

Category: Creating, Reclaimed & Recycled

Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to Urban Gardens!
share | Email e-mail a friend | comments (15)

15 Comments »

EPDM Rubber said:

Really nice and very easy and comfortable idea thanks for sharing it.

— October 6, 2012 @ 06:02

Rachel @ MyCamperTrailer said:

That is indeed a cool recycled garden planter. I am very glad you shared this page. Thanks!

— October 11, 2012 @ 13:11

Nicholas said:

This planter idea is somewhat similar to one that I had completed a few weeks ago; It even has a tube-design incorporated for growing seedlings.

http://www.uponfurtherinspection.com/diy-recycled-planter-box-2-part-2/

I hope its OK to list a link to the planter so people can see what I’m talking about.

Best,

Nicholas

— October 15, 2012 @ 18:09

Trimurti said:

Our companys products are PVC pipes, PVC riser pipes, PPR pipes, PEX Pipes, PPRC Pipes, PVC column pipes, PVC plumbing pipes, UPVC pipes, & Water Storage Tanks and All type of pipes fitting, Supplier, Wholesalers, exporters & manufacturers in India.

— October 18, 2012 @ 08:05

Emmma Daniel said:

hi,

its really useful recycle garden planner which cost not much… thanks for sharing this great idea.

— October 26, 2012 @ 05:01

Trimurti said:

— October 31, 2012 @ 08:26

User-Designed Table Using Recycled Wine Bottles | Urban Gardens | Unlimited Thinking For Limited Spaces | Urban Gardens Pingback said:

[…] Tati Guimarães created Dvinus as an interactive user experience that forces one to contemplate reusing otherwise disposable objects for a sustainable […]

— January 30, 2013 @ 21:21

Asian Home Garden – Container Gardening Pingback said:

[…] can be in the form of plastic containers, pots, even a recycled pipe; they provide the ultimate garden accessories because they are colourful, changeable and portable. […]

— August 28, 2013 @ 22:10

Ten Über Cool and Creative Upcycling Ideas - Urban Gardens Pingback said:

[…] […]

— December 20, 2014 @ 13:53

Ten Cool and Creative Upcycling Ideas - Urban Gardens Pingback said:

[…] […]

— December 20, 2014 @ 13:55

12 Original PVC Pipe Planters To Liven Up Your Garden Pingback said:

[…] tutorial on http://www.urbangardensweb.com Loading… (function(){ var D=new […]

— February 6, 2016 @ 05:53

16 wonderful DIY PVC Pipe Planters to create a decorative garden Pingback said:

[…] into these amazing planters. This project needs little effort and little time. Here are all the instructions you […]