[SpudtheBinx]

Iwas told by a guy who works at RR making jet engines that they get through hundreds, something to do with tempering the blades. They have to pay to dispose of them apparently so they let workers take them home for allotmenteers. Apparently bus companies also get them full of bus shampoo.

[andreadon]

i wouldn't like to grow my plants in barrels that have had detergents or oil in. are they safe? 
confectionary and preserves factories will have similar barrels (but probably not blue) if there's one near you.

[Stripey_cat]

i wouldn't like to grow my plants in barrels that have had detergents or oil in. are they safe? 

You wash them!  Detergents rinse out, oil needs a detergent and hot water to come clean.

[Cazzy]

We have a large bakery/bread factory near our allotment and apparently thats where our blue barrels come from, like some others have said, it costs them to get rid of them and they are happy for ppl to take them.

[philskin]

Is there anyone on here from the oswestry area who could tell me what factories use them and could let me have some cheap ?

[bailey]

another place to try are car dealers/valeters as the traffic film remover that most companies use comes in these drums

[yummy]

yes they get delivered to our allotment site and we can buy em (£2) I think but can't be certain as I bought mine two years ago.

[diggerjoe]

THey charge us a fiver for them at our site but they make great water butts - our allotment shop is better equipped than B&Q but on some things not quite a cheap  but then its the convenience as I dont have a car.

[randombod]

Sorry Ice, i was being tongue in cheek. But i'm tormented by these things. My OH has been on the lookout for a suitable receptical for my carrots for over a year now.   

Normally i explain what i'm looking for and a week or two passes and he comes home with it and says 'look what i found'.

i like the council recycle bins that we get for the kerb side recycling i manage to obtain a few old ones and they make purfect  pots for rows of carrots i got 3 rows per tub

but as for blue barrels keep em comming they r fantastic for water storage during the summer