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How can I recycle my old plastic plant pots?
How can I recycle my old plastic plant pots?
As any gardener knows, empty plastic plant pots have a tendency to multiply faster than dandelions after a spring rain. So, what do you do with all those empty pots?
You probably already use many of these again around your own garden. They can be used to start new seedlings or cuttings or to transfer plants to bigger pots. The bigger pots can be used to protect young plants from early or late frost by placing them upside down over the plants at night. However, be sure to remove the pots during the day. Empty pots also make ideal storage containers for the many small items and gadgets around your potting bench or workshop.
But what do you do with all the extras? Recycle them!
Every June the Garden invites members and the public to recycle their garden plastic. Now in its fifth year, the Garden's program is the only one of its kind to recycle both plastic pots and polystyrene cell packs and trays. To date, the program has saved over 275 thousand pounds of plastic from the landfill.
The cast-away containers are processed into 2 x 6-inch plastic lumber in 8-foot lengths. Perfect for the construction of raised beds, plastic lumber is a durable alternative to CCA-treated lumber. It is completely waterproof, will not rust, is not affected by ants, termites, or other insects. Plastic lumber is low maintenance and never needs to be primed, painted, or sealed.
Best of all, the use of plastic lumber saves our trees and is 100% recyclable.