Buy Used Plastic Drums in New Hampshire

Where to Find Cheap Used Plastic Drums in New Hampshire

What you'll get from this guide: You'll know exactly where to buy used 55-gallon plastic drums in New Hampshire, what to pay, and how to avoid common mistakes. This could save you $20-50 per drum compared to buying new.

Why Buy Used Drums?

Used plastic drums cost 50-80% less than new ones. A new 55-gallon drum costs $80-120. Used drums cost $30-60. If you need 10 drums, you save $500-600.

Where to Find Used Drums

Local Industrial Recyclers

These are your best bet for bulk orders:

• RePackify offers used 55-gallon drums in Manchester and nearby towns like Derry and Nashua
• Food processing companies regularly sell their used drums after cleaning
• Chemical companies may have drums available (check what was stored inside first)

Online Sources

• Facebook Marketplace - Search "55 gallon drum New Hampshire"
• Craigslist New Hampshire - Check the "for sale" section daily

Direct from Businesses

• Restaurants that buy cooking oil in drums
• Car washes that use soap concentrates
• Manufacturing plants in your area

What You'll Pay

Dirty drums (need cleaning): $30-40 each

Clean but not food-grade: $40-60 each

Food-grade drums: $60-100 each

Free drums: Sometimes available if you pick up in bulk (20+ drums)

What to Check Before You Buy

Previous contents:

• Food products = usually safe to reuse
• Chemicals = get the safety data sheet first
• Unknown contents = avoid these

Physical condition:

• Cracks in the plastic
• Dents that affect rolling
• Missing or damaged lids
• Sun damage (plastic becomes brittle)

Drum type:

• Open-head drums (removable lid) are easier to clean
• Closed-head drums (small opening) are harder to clean but better for liquids

How to Get the Best Deal

Buy in bulk: 10+ drums usually gets you a better price per drum

Pick up yourself: Saves $50-100 in shipping costs

Ask about drum history: Food-grade drums from juice companies are often the cleanest

Check multiple sources: Prices vary by $10-20 per drum between sellers

Time your purchase: End of fiscal year (December) and spring cleaning season often have more available

Red Flags to Avoid

• Drums that smell like chemicals (even after cleaning)
• Sellers who won't tell you what was stored inside
• Drums with permanent stains or discoloration
• Prices that seem too good to be true (may indicate contamination)

Getting Started

Decide how many drums you need - This determines if you buy bulk or individual

Choose your grade - Food-grade costs more but is safer for water storage

Set your budget - Factor in cleaning supplies and transportation

Contact local recyclers first - They often have the best bulk prices

Inspect before buying - Especially important for chemical drums

Example: If you need 5 drums for rainwater collection, expect to pay $200-300 total for clean, food-grade drums picked up locally.

Remember: A good used drum that lasts 10 years is better than a cheap damaged one that fails in 2 years.