Until somebody can come up with an alternative to plastic pots, which is as practical in use, it would be entirely counterproductive to ban plastic pots.
I recall seeing a piece on the BBC about using the unrecylable plastic to fill potholes. (Video in the link below)
The guy in the film said he'd seen locals in India doing diy pothole repairs by filling the hole with waste plastic and setting fire to it. Back in the UK he's used the idea to make pellets that can be mixed into the tarmac.
I thought it was an interesting way to use the unrecylable plastic that's already out there, which would otherwise be headed for landfill.
But however the plastic is used it will break down and get into the environment.
If it's used to fill potholes it'll wear away, rain will wash little microscopic bits into the drains and rivers and out into the sea ...It's pernicious stuff.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
"...Clothing: The largest proportion of microplastics in the ocean, 35 percent, comes from synthetic textiles. When you wash clothing made from polyester, acrylic, lycra, spandex, fleece or nylon, between 600,000 and 17.7 million microfibers per wash come loose and end up in the wastewater. Because they are so tiny, water purification filters can't trap them, so they end up in the food chain. Opt for clothing made of cotton, hemp, wool and other natural fibers instead, and buy used items whenever possible...."
Dove. agree totally until there is no more plastic being produced in the world the problem will be with us and with what we already have is going to be with us for a very very long time. Hosta If I could be offered a true alternative that was guaranteed biodegradable at the end of its life then I would happily pay twice maybe three times as much.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
Hosta If I could be offered a true alternative that was guaranteed biodegradable at the end of its life then I would happily pay twice maybe three times as much.
If the plant in a plastic pot was , say £10, are you saying you'd pay £20, Or £30 for it if it was in a biodegradable pot?
@Hostafan1 . I forgot what you asked exactly now ha! I only know my reply is that the plants I bought recently in two hairy coir pots were the same price as another tray of some similar sized plastic pots. I remember the trays being next to each other, it just happened that I wanted/fancied two things in the hairy pots and one of the other plants was further along in a conventional pot. The plants in the hairy pots may have been a little bit smaller because the pots are thicker, but don't think the quality or size of plant and roots was much different.
I understand if the mods want to remove any reference or my reply as it might be seen as advertising. So using this separate paragraph, will say the plant labels had the hairy pot company on them. Did make me laugh, apt and catchy.
Hosta Yes. I consider I get value for money when I buy a plant in a plastic pot as I reuse them time and time again and if it was bio great I will just add it to the compost heap.
I can understand however if you buy a plant and then just throw away the pot that cost might be an issue for some people.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
But however the plastic is used it will break down and get into the environment.
If it's used to fill potholes it'll wear away, rain will wash little microscopic bits into the drains and rivers and out into the sea ...It's pernicious stuff.
Very true. The paint used for roads markings is already made of plastic and car tyres notoriously shed a lot of micro plastic onto the roads. Adding more plastic to the roads could never be a good thing.
Some great arguments in this thread as for the op I constantly re-use all my pots and when I need to get rid of some I pop them on a social media site for free. Hopefully then they get even more re-use from another gardener. As for the bigger picture... those who have posted what have you done recently to reduce your plastic consumption? I see it as little wins by little people will effect the bigger picture later on. For example I was a manager for a food retailer, products are ordered based on demand. We did a trial based on loose produce, literally gave the customer the majority option of loose over packed. What do you think came top?! Thats right the one packed in plastic still. If I could of I would have got rid of pre packed fruit and veg where there was an option to swap. If people bought loose and didn't pop it in a plastic bag to take it to the till the supermarkets wouldn't order the plastic trayed and wrapped product. It's all based on demand! and convenience for us. Same goes for my children if I can have a wood version of a product I buy it, cost doesn't matter to me on that issue as I can repaint, sand or fix wood. Not everyone has the money to consider that option tho.
Posts
The guy in the film said he'd seen locals in India doing diy pothole repairs by filling the hole with waste plastic and setting fire to it. Back in the UK he's used the idea to make pellets that can be mixed into the tarmac.
I thought it was an interesting way to use the unrecylable plastic that's already out there, which would otherwise be headed for landfill.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/magazine-39693091/can-plastic-roads-help-save-the-planet
As for my plastic plant pots... I keep them and re-use them over and over again.
If it's used to fill potholes it'll wear away, rain will wash little microscopic bits into the drains and rivers and out into the sea ...It's pernicious stuff.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2018-05-plastic-pollution.html#jCp
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hosta If I could be offered a true alternative that was guaranteed biodegradable at the end of its life then I would happily pay twice maybe three times as much.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
I forgot what you asked exactly now ha!
I only know my reply is that the plants I bought recently in two hairy coir pots were the same price as another tray of some similar sized plastic pots. I remember the trays being next to each other, it just happened that I wanted/fancied two things in the hairy pots and one of the other plants was further along in a conventional pot.
The plants in the hairy pots may have been a little bit smaller because the pots are thicker, but don't think the quality or size of plant and roots was much different.
I understand if the mods want to remove any reference or my reply as it might be seen as advertising. So using this separate paragraph, will say the plant labels had the hairy pot company on them.
Did make me laugh, apt and catchy.
I can understand however if you buy a plant and then just throw away the pot that cost might be an issue for some people.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
As for the bigger picture... those who have posted what have you done recently to reduce your plastic consumption?
I see it as little wins by little people will effect the bigger picture later on. For example I was a manager for a food retailer, products are ordered based on demand. We did a trial based on loose produce, literally gave the customer the majority option of loose over packed. What do you think came top?! Thats right the one packed in plastic still. If I could of I would have got rid of pre packed fruit and veg where there was an option to swap. If people bought loose and didn't pop it in a plastic bag to take it to the till the supermarkets wouldn't order the plastic trayed and wrapped product. It's all based on demand! and convenience for us.
Same goes for my children if I can have a wood version of a product I buy it, cost doesn't matter to me on that issue as I can repaint, sand or fix wood. Not everyone has the money to consider that option tho.