Lumber made entirely from High Density Polyethylene resin—the same plastic milk jugs are made of—is made from plastic waste that easily makes another turn around the recycling wheel. Like composite lumber, it is workable with wood tools. HDPE plastic lumber comes in various colors and wood tones. Plastic lumber colors and wood tones include: white, green, sand, cedar, gray, weathered wood, redwood, and many more. Decking, trim, and railings are only some of the uses High Density Polyethylene plastic.
HDPE Plastic lumber does not possess the strength of wood and it is thus best suited for low-load structural applications. Some uses for High Density Polyethylene plastic include tables, benches, or planks on well-supported walkways. It is not intended for primary structural load-bearing elements, such as posts, joists, and beams. Compared to composite lumber, HDPE plastic decking products tend to expand and contract more with temperature. This plastic has an increased tendency to warp. Manufacturers of plastic lumber vary in their uses of post-consumer waste. Look for products which contain at least 50% post-consumer waste plastic.
