Garden Hoses Trash Container Garden hoses are a mess for recycling plant operators because they are long stringy items that damage equipment (we call these “tanglers”). They also create safety hazards for employees. Remember, if you can’t find a way to donate or find another use (like perforating to create a soaker hose in your garden beds), please place in the trash. Other reuse suggestions for old hoses: 10 Brilliant Ways To Repurpose Your Old Garden Hose 7 Amazing DIY Tips to Repurpose Your Old Garden Hose Ways to Reduce Look for Natural Hoses Polyurethane or natural rubber hoses are safer materials than PVC hoses, so check the label. They are more eco-friendly because they do not contain chemicals that can leach into the environment. Look for Lead-Free Many hoses transmit unsafe levels of lead in their water due to their brass fittings. Reduce your hose’s environmental impact by choosing one that’s lead-free. Look for labels such as “Drink Safe,” “Safe for Potable Water,” “Lead-Free,” “Eco-Smart” and “Family-Safe.” Ways to Reuse Use as a Drip Watering System One of the easiest ways to reuse an old garden hose is to poke holes in it and use it as a drip watering or irrigation system. Make a Blade Guard Slit open a piece of garden hose and use it as a blade protector for a saw, ax or even your ice skates. Did You Know? Garden Hoses Can Be Hazardous to Your Health A study on over 100 garden hoses found that many contain unsafe levels of BPA, lead and flame retardants, all of which leach into the water. Drinking from garden hoses can be hazardous to your health. Read more about this issue in an article by Time. Screening Garden Products
