re-using a formaldehyde drum?

Painted Owl · #1 03/19/13, 09:21 AM

My good and generous neighbor, (who has questionable farm practices, to say the least) just "gave me" (dropped off while I was sleeping) a 55 gal drum about half full of spent grain and mash from a brewery to use as chicken feed. (which i would not be opposed to doing) But, the mash is left over from his pigs. The pigs have been gone for over two weeks. The grain smells horrible, is full of dead worms and slugs, and even more unsettling, the drum has a big formaldehyde lable on it and a cancer warning. I don't even want to put this stuff on my compost pile, let alone feed it to my chickens. I will probably dig a hole somewhere to bury the mash, but can I even re-use the drum for anything? I thought about cutting it in half, and trying to use them for nesting homes for my muscovy ducks.

Bearfootfarm · #2 03/19/13, 09:42 AM

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can I even re-use the drum for anything?

I'd use it to burn trash if it's metal.
Otherwise, I'd give it back to him

Painted Owl · #3 03/19/13, 10:10 AM

It's plastic, but you are right about giving it back. It's probably expected that I would anyways!

coolrunnin · #4 03/19/13, 11:59 AM

I dont think I would burn in it either doesnt sound to good for your lungs...

Give it back heck even trying to just dispose of it could led to problems.

rambler · #5 03/19/13, 01:46 PM

Metal or plastic, either way they are always handy for storing stuff in them.

I understand the feed in it is past due date, but the container itself would be a nice asset on most any farm/ farmett across the country......

Paul

Sparkie · #6 03/19/13, 04:45 PM

Paul I think the point is that the barrel had formaldehyde in it originally. Super toxic stuff.

mnn2501 · #7 03/19/13, 04:58 PM

formaldehyde barrel? I wouldn't use it for anything..... there's a reason those slugs and worms are dead.

Sounds like your neighbor wanted to get rid of the trash or he really is clueless.

Waterwheel Farm · #8 03/19/13, 05:41 PM

A lot of common plastics, including some drinking water bottles and food storage containers can release formaldehyde under certain conditions. I probably wouldn't drink water out of the drum, but as far as using it for a chicken house, etc.... me personally I wouldn't worry about it.

tinknal · #9 03/19/13, 05:42 PM

Formaldehyde evaporates and degrades in sunlight. I would use it for anything you want. If you are worried about it use it for spare parts, kindling, whatever.

Painted Owl · #10 03/19/13, 07:21 PM

I'm just going to give this one back. But, it raised a question for me: These blue 55 gallon drums pop up pretty often. I have two that a friend wants to give me for rain barrels. If they DON'T have a label, I should really be considering what could have originally come in them. And how dangerous or safe it was.

Quote:

Formaldehyde evaporates and degrades in sunlight. I would use it for anything you want.

And, I was looking for information on the formaldehyde, too. Specifically if it hangs around, still causing trouble, or if it flashes off over time.

Thanks, posters!

Bearfootfarm · #11 03/19/13, 08:41 PM

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I should really be considering what could have originally come in them.

Most of the blue ones I see around here came from car washes and had soap of some type, or wax

tinknal · #12 03/19/13, 08:56 PM

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Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

Most of the blue ones I see around here came from car washes and had soap of some type, or wax

Around here most blue barrels come from the bottling plant. They are food grade and contain flavorings.

rambler · #13 03/19/13, 11:34 PM

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Originally Posted by Sparkie

Paul I think the point is that the barrel had formaldehyde in it originally. Super toxic stuff.

It is a natural, organic thing.

Thought organic was good for us.

Paul