Recycling plastic flower pots and plant trays

Alan_Neath

It seems that a couple of years ago there were many garden centres taking old unwanted plastic flower pots and plant trays for recycling, however, most of these have abandoned the service.
I have spoken to plastic recycling companies who tell me there is a real demand for old plastic pots and trays, so i have decided to find a way to introduce the recycling companies and garden centres who wish to work together with the recycling public to collect, recycle and re-use these plastic product rather than have them go to land fill or into power stations as energy recovery.

If you know a garden centre who is currently recycling please let me know so i can add them to my website.

If your local garden centre does NOT provide a recycling service ( just ask, they will be happy to answer ) then tell the about the website (below) and the free service of providing a local recycling company who can help them to get recycling, and save the cost of skips going to landfill too.

THE ONLY CRITERIA IS, THAT THE GARDEN CENTRE NEEDS TO BE WILLING TO RECYCLE UNWANTED PLASTIC POTS AND TRAYS, after that we will do the work for them.

http://recycleplasticflowerpotsandplantseedtrays.com/

Thanks
Alan:T

lolly5648

I give them away to friends, allotements, or on freecycle

On our local Freecycle people are always looking for flower pots and plant trays. I think this is the best use for them

emiff6

My local garden centre has a four foot square bin outside near the store exit, filled with unwanted plastic plantpots that you can help yourself to for free.
:T:T:T

mcgrow

Needs another option: keep them for next year.

Alan_Neath

I would like to take them to a garden centre who recycles

Hi Folks

Looking at the replies, i just wanted to confirm that i an looking at
" old unwanted plastic flower pots and plant trays for recycling "

Of course if you keep , re use, pass on to friends, or Free cycle thats great, but my research suggests that this only account for a tiny fraction of the millions of plant pots in circukation, and the tons that go to landfill at present.

Like the reply from " emiff6" who tells me that :

" My local garden centre has a four foot square bin outside near the store exit, filled with unwanted plastic plantpots that you can help yourself to for free."

Could you name the garden centre and place or address so i can look them up please ?

Thanks everybody !

Alan
ps try putting " recycle plastic flower pots and plant seed trays .com " into your web browser, you might find the directory of garden centres who offer plastic recycling

morg_monster

Squires garden centre in Hersham, Surrey leave out their unwanted pots for customers to take. I always look there before buying new, especially for bigger pots. They are a chain but I have only ever visited the Hersham one. http://www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk/ Have never seen anything about them recycling other pots though.

Also I have seen plant trays at Homebase free for customers too.

Rosebud24

I would like to take them to a garden centre who recycles

The Squires centres in Badshot Lea and Reigate (both in Surrey) both have places to leave pots and/or help yourself, as does Notcutts in Camberley, Surrey. However, I'm not sure if the leftover ones are recycled.

peter_the_piper

Unfortunately most plant containers are made from 5 or 6 plastic and there is currently no economic way of recycling them. Short of landfill or bonfire there's ultimately no way of disposing of them.

SailorSam

I couldn't see the box to tick that says i use them.
What do you plant your seeds and cuttings in if not the small plastic pots.

emiff6

Palmers Garden Centre, Narborough, Leics. It's a family run business now into the fourth generation.
http://www.palmersgardencentre.co.uk/

Alan_Neath

I would like to take them to a garden centre who recycles

Thanks very much for taking the time to share info about Squires garden centres, i have asked them the question, what do they do with damaged, unwanted pots and trays which are left over from the bring and swap / exchange.

The two most likely replies which i anticipate, will be A: they go into a skip and from there to landfil or B: they go to incinerators as energy recovery to be burnt.

It is possible they are looking at the better option which is having them collected by a plastic recycling processor, who will sort, grade, wash, chip them pellet them ready to be used in making new horticultural products, such as black plant pots !

I hope they do manage to move into this type of recycling, then i can add another chain of garden centres to my recycling directory !

thanks again for your help MOrg Monster and Rosebud24 !

Alan