BCSS - Forum

A few years ago, I remember being able to rummage through the plant pot recycling bins that were usually just outside the entrance to garden centers and they all seem to have disappeared. After searching for an answer it seems that very few got recycled because the black ones with carbon fillers were difficult to identify the base material and recycle so garden centers stopped collecting them.

I found most of what I wanted in the range of 4-6 inch shallow pots, all they needed was a good wash and a wipe over with ArmourAll protectant and they would last for years.

There is reference to a new scheme set up by the HTA that was supposed to start earlier this year. To date I haven't seen any signs at our local Notcutts or Dobbies so far.

Is any one else seeing recycling bins at garden centers for plastic pots?

Best regards
Dave

That's interesting, Dave - I wondered why my local garden centre had stopped their pot recycling, you have provided the answer. Like you, I had found a good selection of dwarf pots on occasion, which can't be bought in the garden centres these days.

So far, no new scheme has been introduced, but your news gives hope that something will happen in the (near) future.

I had also noticed that those useful bins of used pots had vanished, they were particularly useful for potting on cuttings for branch sales. However, a few weeks ago I discovered that the plant centre at RHS Wisley had reintroduced the scheme and I got some very useful pots. Probably convenient for you Diane, and anyone else in the south east, unfortunately no use to people in other areas.

It sounds great. I used to rummage in these pot re-cycling boxes and found some really useful finds. I have missed them. Let's hope they make a comeback everywhere.

Last time I went to Wisley (that would be last year), they still had those bins.

Wisley is part of this scheme http://www.pottoproduct.co.uk/custom_map/index.html

Not many flags on the map and non near me.

Thanks Jim, that's a very useful map, Wisley is the only place near me that is part of the scheme. Until maybe last year at least three other Garden Centres locally had pot recycling bins, but all have vanished. It's a shame, such a good way of reusing (= recycling) plastic pots.

Very useful link and map. But there's only one in the whole of Wales (and then only a few miles inside the border). Come on you lot - must do better!

Here's a link to what I found

https://hta.org.uk/assurance-compliance ... cling.html

Regards
Dave