17 Reasons to Use Recycled Plastic Lumber for Raised Beds

Earlier in the year, funding was secured to construct two raised herb beds. Following extensive research into suitable materials, recycled plastic lumber was selected as an alternative to traditional timber.

What is Recycled Plastic Lumber?
Recycled plastic lumber is a durable alternative to timber, manufactured from 100% recycled post-industrial plastic that would otherwise be sent to landfill. Unlike traditional wood, it is rot-proof, impact resistant, and resistant to algae and moss growth. Graffiti can be easily removed, as the material's outer skin prevents paint from penetrating the surface.

The recycled plastic lumber used for the project was supplied by Kedel, who provided design guidance and technical support throughout the process.

Why Choose Recycled Plastic Lumber?

The material offers a range of environmental and practical benefits, including:

• Reduction in energy consumption by 66%
• Production of only one-third of the sulphur dioxide associated with virgin material production
•* Production of only half the nitrous oxide emissions
• Reduction in water usage by almost 90%
• Carbon dioxide generation reduced by two-and-a-half times
• Service life up to five times longer than timber
• Vandal resistant
• Crack, chip and splinter resistant
• Less flammable than timber
• Resistant to insects and animals
• Minimal maintenance requirements
• UV resistant
• Easy to clean
• Can be worked using conventional woodworking tools
• Holds screws and fixings securely
• Reduced whole-life costs

In addition to its performance benefits, recycled plastic lumber provides a distinctive, contemporary appearance that differs from traditional timber products.

Additional Project Advice
As there was no on-site water supply available, irrigation relied on rainfall and water transported from nearby residential properties. To help retain moisture within the raised beds, a membrane was installed over the soil. This allows water to penetrate while reducing moisture loss through evaporation. Openings can be cut into the membrane to accommodate planting, creating an effective and low-maintenance growing environment.

Supplier Support
The recycled plastic lumber was supplied by Kedel, who assisted with refining the raised bed design to ensure structural stability and provided practical advice throughout the project. Their support helped ensure the successful delivery of the raised beds and demonstrated the versatility of recycled plastic lumber in landscaping applications.

"We ordered ours from the lovely folk at Kedel. They helped us tweak the design for our raised bed too so that it was structurally sound and were able to provide all sorts of other useful advice. I would definitely recommend them to other groups."

Contact Kedel on 01282 861 325 or email sales@kedel.co.uk.