Towers of Rust: Giving New Purpose to a Global Waste Problem

Across the globe, rusting towers of steel containers line shipyards, ports, and industrial graveyards. These discarded shipping containers, once vital to the global supply chain, now stand as symbols of a mounting problem: industrial waste with untapped potential.

Each container was built to withstand harsh conditions such as salt air, heavy loads and thousands of nautical miles. Yet despite their durability, many are retired after just 2 trips across the Atlantic Ocean. With an estimated 43 million containers worldwide and only 23 million in active use, the question is not just how we got here, but what we do next.

At ēko Solutions, a Land Betterment portfolio company, we believe those towers of rust deserve a second life. Based in Decatur, Alabama, our manufacturing facility is turning this industrial surplus into sustainable infrastructure—homes, offices, food service units, restrooms, and even indoor farms. By reimagining how these containers can serve communities instead of landfills, we are addressing a global challenge with scalable, locally crafted solutions.

From Waste to Worth

The global economy depends on shipping containers. Their uniform shape, strength, and stackability make them indispensable to the flow of goods. But their uniformity also makes them perfect candidates for adaptive reuse. These containers were designed for durability so why not leverage that for long-term community benefit?

At ēko Solutions, our approach is rooted in sustainability and craftsmanship. We see each container not as scrap, but as the foundation for something new. Our team of passionate, skilled workers in Decatur takes pride in transforming these metal shells into fully functioning spaces that are mobile, modular, and built to last.

Where Innovation Meets Craft

There is no automation line churning out identical structures here. Each unit is purpose-built, guided by design and constructed with care. Our team is deeply connected to the mission. Many have ties to the local manufacturing history of northern Alabama and bring a sense of purpose to every weld and panel.

Whether it is an emergency housing unit after a natural disaster, a shipping-container café, or a remote farm built for climate resilience, our products represent more than just recycled materials. They represent an opportunity to revitalize land, empower workers, and reduce industrial waste.

A New Chapter for a Storied Material

Shipping containers were never designed to disappear. And at ēko Solutions, they will not. Instead, we are writing a new chapter for these towers of rust, one that prioritizes community, sustainability, and impact over abandonment.

This is not just a recycling story. It is a reinvention story. And it is being written by the hands of dedicated craftspeople in Decatur, Alabama.