'Herbal Raised Beds'
A Community Project for Ainsley Gardens,
Wilmot Street, London
A Community Project for Ainsley Gardens,
Wilmot Street, London
18 Good Reasons to use recycled plastic planks for a raised bed
In 2011 a group of enthusiasts in a London street managed to get funding to build two raised herb beds for community use.
They researched the project thoroughly and in the end decided to go for a recycled plastic solution with profiles supplied by Kedel Limited in Colne, Lancashire.
What is Recycled Plastic Lumber?
Kedel use 100% recycled post-industrial
plastic, diverted from landfill.
It’s rot proof, impact resistant, and impervious to green algae and moss.
Plus, graffiti can simply be wiped clean, as paint cannot stick properly or penetrate the plastic.
It’s rot proof, impact resistant, and impervious to green algae and moss.
Plus, graffiti can simply be wiped clean, as paint cannot stick properly or penetrate the plastic.
Kedel looked at the groups carefully drawn plans (shown left), and gave some advice about which profiles would be best and the best way to construct such large raised beds.
These raised beds were quite high to allow older and disabled people to get easy access to the herbs with no bending down necessary.
The organisers were delighted to get such good advice for free and even more delighted when the mixed plastic profiles arrived on site.
These raised beds were quite high to allow older and disabled people to get easy access to the herbs with no bending down necessary.
The organisers were delighted to get such good advice for free and even more delighted when the mixed plastic profiles arrived on site.
They were tough, durable, and easy to work with normal woodworking tools.
Besides being environmentally friendly this material looked like it would stand the test of time, with a life span many times longer than wood and without the need for any treatment to keep it looking good.
So Here Are 18 Good Reasons to Use Recycled Plastic instead of wood!
- Reduction of energy consumption by 66%
- Production of only a third of the sulphur dioxide
- Production of only half of the nitrous oxide
- Reduction of water usage by nearly 90%
- Reduction of carbon dioxide generation by two-and-a-half times
- 1.8 tonnes of oil are saved for every tonne of recycled polythene produced
- Lasts 5 times longer than timber
- Vandal Resistant
- Crack, chip and splinter proof
- Less Flammable than timber
- Insect and animal resistant
- Labour saving – minimal maintenance
- UV resistant
- Easy to clean
- Can be worked like timber
- Holds screws and fittings well
- Reduced Whole Life Costs
- And it looks cool too! It’s like this sleek space-aged wonder material.
Any other advice to would-be raised-bed-builders?
Yes! These beds included a permeable membrane over the soil to let water into the bed but prevent it from drying out, and fortunately it seemed to work well, as rain was the only available water source.
Just cut a hole in the membrane to put in your plants and you’re good to go.
Just cut a hole in the membrane to put in your plants and you’re good to go.
Where can you get your recycled plastic raised bed materials?
Kedel Limited seem to be a good place to start if you need good advice and friendly people you can talk to. They even sell ready made recycled plastic raised bed kits.
Call: 01282 861325 or e-mail: sales@kedel.co.uk or take a look on their website www.kedel.co.uk
