It looks like it's been available in North America for the last 25 years. Recycled plastic fencing (also used for park benches and decks). I don't remember ever seeing a horse fence made of it in America, but I just remembered a geocache asking the question "What percentage of this park bench is made of recycled materials?" So, I guess the government is clued in on this new material that lasts longer than wood.
On our last geocaching outing we encountered two properties that used recycled plastic fencing - one was a park and the other was a livestock fence. The park one was brown and you'd think it is wood until you touch it and it's nothing natural.
There are other horse properties around using these posts, many of them the round grey posts that are much less attractive, but cheap - 5 bucks per post.
Aarene read about my fascination with this material and warned that it might splinter over time. The manufacturers' websites promise no splintering. (Some of my plastic step-in posts that were bought in 2009 have lost their deep green color and are rougher in texture now, to the point where sometimes I regret not wearing gloves when I work with them. But that's a different material.)
I loved the website of one dealer I encountered years ago, "Nothing lasts forever. But our stuff comes close."
Here's an American company with a great name: Everwood Posts. They have a nice website.They make fencing out of recycled synthetic turf? That's strange. Most of the companies proudly state they take it directly from what you throw in the recycling bins.
This company (website here) is talking right at me when they mention wet ground. It's wetter here than Seattle. It sounds tempting:
In which situations is a recycling post suitable for me?
Your ground is very soft: Recycled post are usually anchored 60 cm deep in the ground and provide the necessary stability in soft ground. Thanks to rot-proof and groundwater-neutral material, this deep anchoring is possible without any problems. The fence post cannot disintegrate underground or contaminate the groundwater.
You want to be able to adjust and work on your fence posts: If you want to shorten your fence posts or attach certain equipment to them, a recycling post is ideal. The plastic material can be easily adapted to your needs. Since the material does not splinter even if broken, the risk of injury during processing is minimal for you.
You are looking for fence posts that last a very long time: Recycling posts are rot-proof and very resistant to oils, acids, bases or other "aggressive" liquids. That is why recycling posts are a very good alternative to conventional wooden posts.
OK I'm pretty sure we don't have any aggressive liquids on our land. Except what I use against weeds *lol*
The government here has been swapping out the Autobahn fenceposts with recycled posts over the last few years. (The Autobahn fencing is why you never see dead deer on the Autobahn.)
Here is some Autobahn fencing from our city:
7 comments:
I am intrigued. I worry that the posts will freeze I. Extreme cold and shatter or degrade. But if they have that sorted ….
Teresa, I wish I knew. Obviously hard plastic will break when frozen. There might be something to this "soft plastic recipe" as they called it in the video. My farm supply shop offers a 25 year guarantee for their recycling posts. My husband just talked to them and they want 18Euros per post for 200cm by 10cm diameter.
Yesterday while discussing who exactly owns one of the fallen trees (*lol*) the neighbor said it will be a shame for us to lose our pretty wooden fence he looks out his window at. Yes it is pretty, or was. Now it's simply a matter of time before it's lying on the ground. He was coming up with crazy ideas about how to repair it - remove the rotten underground parts, and pound the still-good parts into the ground. It will be short, but it will still be pretty. Um....??!!
As you know, we use (recycled) railroad ties (roughly 6"x8") posts for corners and gates, and those posts will definitely outlive me, and possibly outlive Western Civilization. However, they are so durable because they are treated with creosote, which is a toxin. So, there's that!
If these recycled posts are as strong as advertised, consider using them for corners and gates. You will want to set them in concrete, and use reinforcing to keep them upright. Then use t-posts for the straight runs of fencing--not as pretty as wood, but a lot cheaper and more durable, and they *don't* need to be set in concrete.
If it were legal in this country, I'd buy up any unused railroad ties. I'm a typical American and I want the freedom to do whatever I want with land that belongs to me. But it's not allowed, so I cannot. Our good neighbors will be so sad if we follow the T post plan, which is the most economical. We'll see what happens. Setting T posts in concrete, has anyone ever done that?
Our freeways are fenced off here in the US too. Still have a lot of dead deer. They just pop right over that short little fence! I've always wanted a nice, white plastic fence...just wont ever be able to afford one. Those posts on the other hand look like a good option.
No need to set tposts in concrete. The flanges hole the upright in place. DO set your corner- and gate-posts in concrete...unless you enjoy resetting them every few years!
Aarene, I looked up Trek and it seems like the same soft plastic described in Australia.
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