Recycling plastic flower pots and plant trays

Alan_Neath

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

Thanks Sassyblue

This business of plant pots going into local council kerb side collection is often very complicated, but from the research i have done, the simple answer is that these pots are generally not welcome in your house hold recycling waste, because they are typically one of two types of plastic polymer:

PP symbol number 5 for polypropylene
PS number 6 for polystyrene

In addition, they are contaminated due to the earth, soil, and compost, unless you are very eager, and wash them !

Most plastic recycling at present appears to be restricted to single stream waste such as the HDPE symbol number 2, High Density Polyethylene.

As a result, lots of the other plastic never actually gets recycled, but goes from the recyclers to landfill or power station incinerators.

Some mixed plastics will also go off to places like China and India in ships returning with spare cargo space.

It's a very interesting subject !

sassyblue wrote: »

I re-use them mostly, second option is to give them away. Only if they're damaged do l throw them out in the recycling the council takes away, l'm not sure if they are supposed to take them but they've never left a bag and the bags are see through??

Alan_Neath

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

Thanks dodgyhip

That's another garden centre for my list !

I have found that the spread of plastic recyclers is far from evenly distributed around the country, with many of these located in the North of England with much more advanced technology being used in that area to reclaim many more types of plastic. There are more companies starting or existing ones expanding and moving into areas where recycling has not developed so well.

I will see if i can find more garden centres near you who are working in partnership with recyclers to offer plant pot recycling !

dodgyhip wrote: »

Dobbies Garden Centre (Grovelands)
166 Hyde End Road
Shinfield, Reading, Berks RG2 9ER

They have one large wooden composter like structure for
people to put unwanted plastic pots in. The only problem
is that it fills up so darned quick and they take ages to
empty it.:o

Know of any other garden centres in the Reading area that
collect spent pots? Much appreciated

salthepal

I wash mine out and re-use them.

TravellingAbuela

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

I wish this problem could be solved. I have an enormous box in the garage full to overflowing with plant pots of all shapes and sizes. Yes, some I re-use and pass on but that's the tip of the iceberg as more are soon added to replace them. I don't just want to chuck them in the wheelie bin to go in landfill but can't find anywhere local that recycles them.

Alan_Neath

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

Washing out old plant pots is good practice for the keen gardener, but very few garden centres and nursery growers can viably do this, which they must, to avoid plant disease and contamination.

This is why garden centres can't use all their own pots and many of them struggle to find a local recycler who will work in partnership to take them away for recycling

salthepal wrote: »

I wash mine out and re-use them.

Alan_Neath

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

I can imagine you are definitely not in the minority with loads of plant pots, i work as a gardener, and pretty much see these at almost every home i visit, and i feel that lots could be willingly recycled by people, if the facilities existed locally such as garden centres, which is what i am working on right now !

TravellingAbuela wrote: »

I wish this problem could be solved. I have an enormous box in the garage full to overflowing with plant pots of all shapes and sizes. Yes, some I re-use and pass on but that's the tip of the iceberg as more are soon added to replace them. I don't just want to chuck them in the wheelie bin to go in landfill but can't find anywhere local that recycles them.

dollparts

I have a huge stash piled high in the shed, I have all sizes and use them for cuttings, seeds and giving away matured plugs for neighbours-which they plant in their gardens and hand back to me.

In the homebase stores nearest to me (Purley Way, Croydon and Penge-London,) there is a huge cage at the checkout and another in the outdoor plant section full of plastic trays and pots and a sign telling you to help yourself. They vary in size so are handy for just about anything you would need them for in the garden.

I was told by the council that if you place incorrect items into your recycling bin and they are no weeded out in good time it contaminates that particular load and it has to be sent to landfill anyway. It's a thought that has stayed with me and makes me double check what I put out in which box so my efforts do not end up in a hole in the ground.

wyldeflower

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

Must admit its not something i would have thought of as i hoard all my old pots and often they break as well then i throw them away .I do think its a great scheme though.

lolly5648

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

dollparts wrote: »

In the homebase stores nearest to me (Purley Way, Croydon and Penge-London,) there is a huge cage at the checkout and another in the outdoor plant section full of plastic trays and pots and a sign telling you to help yourself. They vary in size so are handy for just about anything you would need them for in the garden.

Nothing like that in either of my two local Homebases - wish there was.

olly300

lolly5648 wrote: »

Nothing like that in either of my two local Homebases - wish there was.

They are obviously not paying enough to get their waste collected.