Some of the big garden centre chains that used to offer a pot recycling facility have now withdrawn it because of the difficulty in separating out all the different plastics, such as polyethylene , polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as they can't all be mixed together. Some can't be recycled at all. The bulk plastic needs to be sorted at a specialist recycling plant. PVC sinks, the others float so have to be sorted by hand. I have seen one of these plants, with a big water bath and conveyor belt where plastics are sorted. What a job!!
I suspect that a lot of it is shipped to the Middle / Far East for recycling, and I fear that some of it is then landfilled, but I can't be sure.
At home I try to separate out my plastics into those that can and can't be recycled. OH just told me off for putting plastic packaging from bacon in the recycle bin. It should go in the black landfill bin!
I used to work in the Confectionery Industry. The fancy see-through plastic on Easter Eggs is not recyclable. Just think how many of those are now on their way to landfill!
I recently ran out of broken terracotta ‘croc’ to help with drainage whilst potting up some larger plants the other day, so snapped up some plastic ones to use instead. I think this should be ok, although thinking about it now they might biodegrade or leak their chemicals into the potted soil after some amount of time. Anyone got any thoughts on this train of thought.
I think you are worrying about nothing-on that train of thought all plastic pots would leak chemicals into plants broken or not-not a scientist- but- this is sooooo unlikely.
I try and ration myself to only keeping square pots, as they stack so much better in the greenhouse. i did sneak a load of round ones into a skip ( with permission) last year, next morning they'd all gone...someone must want them!
I think you are worrying about nothing-on that train of thought all plastic pots would leak chemicals into plants broken or not-not a scientist- but- this is sooooo unlikely.
Thanks 'sotongeoff' of course your perfectly correct in what you said in your reply, just a little something that popped into my head as I was typing out my comment. All those plastic pots nobody needs anymore...just wish it was the same with terracotta ones which I use as often as possible. Happy gardening days to you.
I use square pots for pricking out / potting on - they are around 25% more efficient in terms of the volume you can get per unit area. (taught that on a propagation course run by a Peter Thompson. Anyone heard of him?)
Yes, I have one of his books 'Creative Propagation', which is an incredibly comprehensive guide on all aspects of the subject. Would highly recommend it, but have a feeling it may be out of print.
Yes it is a terrific book. He challenged many conventions as to what works and doesn't work, in terms of methods, timings etc.. I have never found a book anywhere like as good.
The course was a two day affair, a birthday pressie, with overnight accommodation in a great B&B farmhouse, and he took us into a garden to strike cuttings, take seeds etc., many of unusual varieties, and we took our efforts home. He really was inspirational.
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Some of the big garden centre chains that used to offer a pot recycling facility have now withdrawn it because of the difficulty in separating out all the different plastics, such as polyethylene , polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as they can't all be mixed together. Some can't be recycled at all. The bulk plastic needs to be sorted at a specialist recycling plant. PVC sinks, the others float so have to be sorted by hand. I have seen one of these plants, with a big water bath and conveyor belt where plastics are sorted. What a job!!
I suspect that a lot of it is shipped to the Middle / Far East for recycling, and I fear that some of it is then landfilled, but I can't be sure.
At home I try to separate out my plastics into those that can and can't be recycled. OH just told me off for putting plastic packaging from bacon in the recycle bin. It should go in the black landfill bin!
You would expect horticulturalists to have some basic awareness of environmental issues. Horticulture seems to be lagging behind every other industry.
For an industry to sell its products (plants) in packaging that cannot readily be recyled is outrageous in these times.
I used to work in the Confectionery Industry. The fancy see-through plastic on Easter Eggs is not recyclable. Just think how many of those are now on their way to landfill!
I recently ran out of broken terracotta ‘croc’ to help with drainage whilst potting up some larger plants the other day, so snapped up some plastic ones to use instead. I think this should be ok, although thinking about it now they might biodegrade or leak their chemicals into the potted soil after some amount of time. Anyone got any thoughts on this train of thought.
I think you are worrying about nothing-on that train of thought all plastic pots would leak chemicals into plants broken or not-not a scientist- but- this is sooooo unlikely.
I try and ration myself to only keeping square pots, as they stack so much better in the greenhouse. i did sneak a load of round ones into a skip ( with permission) last year, next morning they'd all gone...someone must want them!
Thanks 'sotongeoff' of course your perfectly correct in what you said in your reply, just a little something that popped into my head as I was typing out my comment. All those plastic pots nobody needs anymore...just wish it was the same with terracotta ones which I use as often as possible.
Happy gardening days to you.
I use square pots for pricking out / potting on - they are around 25% more efficient in terms of the volume you can get per unit area. (taught that on a propagation course run by a Peter Thompson. Anyone heard of him?)
Yes it is a terrific book. He challenged many conventions as to what works and doesn't work, in terms of methods, timings etc.. I have never found a book anywhere like as good.
The course was a two day affair, a birthday pressie, with overnight accommodation in a great B&B farmhouse, and he took us into a garden to strike cuttings, take seeds etc., many of unusual varieties, and we took our efforts home. He really was inspirational.