Why cheap poly water tanks are bad for the environment

In today’s economy, consumers all too often choose a product based on price alone.  Poly water tanks are no exception but it is economically & environmentally irresponsible to choose a plastic water tank based on price alone

JoJo Tanks are guaranteed for 8 years. Buy good quality water tanks such as these and help save our environment.

Many may argue that ‘plastic’ tanks or polyethylene tanks are not good for the environment in the first place because of their fossil-fuel based origin.  Well, consider the environmental degradation that occurs to produce a steel water tank for instance – the iron ore mining, processing and pollution that occurs could be far worse (especially if manufactured in countries such as China).

Polyethylene tanks are largely made from petro-chemical by-products and use up waste that used to be discarded.  This argument is largely academic anyway.

Here are some reasons why buying a cheap, inferior quality plastic water tank is not an environmentally responsible decision:

• Cheap poly water tanks are often made in developing countries where very little environmental policing takes place – the result is that land and water is polluted by using cost-cutting, ecologically damaging manufacturing processes (Again, China is a country that immediately comes to mind)
• Water tank manufacturers in countries with weak environmental and human rights legislation exploit natural resources in an unsustainable manner and workers are mistreated & underpaid. Poverty-stricken labourers are unlikely to give any thought to looking after their environment either
• Inferior, low-cost poly tanks are usually made from inferior materials – the result is that these tanks do not last very long (sometimes not even a year!).  The tanks are then discarded and sent to overfull landfill sites.  If another cheap tank is bought, this means that more manufacturing has to occur, creating more pollution.  A high quality polyethylene water tank can last 15 years or more if properly installed…the environmental- and economic benefits are obvious.
• Some types of inferior ‘plastic’ tanks are made from non-recyclable materials so that when the tank is ready for disposal it’ll use up space at landfill sites and/or likely be incinerated/burnt, creating air pollution.

Even from a purely economic perspective, buying a cheap, inferior quality water tank or liquid storage tank does not make sense at all.  If inferior tanks need to be replaced every year or two, the costs will quickly add up and become much more than buying a high quality poly tank that can last for so much longer.

In South Africa, we recommend water tanks, chemical tanks, silo and other storage tanks made by JoJo Tanks that now carry an 8-year guarantee.  JoJo Tanks is a South African company with more than 30 years poly water tank manufacturing experience and uses high quality raw material supplied by Sasol that is recyclable when the tank reaches the end of its long service life.  Both these companies comply with South Africa’s world class environmental legislation and have an excellent track record when it comes to human resources and fair treatment of employees.

Click on the links below to view the wide variety of JoJo water tanks, JoJo rainwater tanks, JoJo chemical tanks, JoJo silo tanks, JoJo tank stands and other high quality JoJo Tanks products.