It’s essential for all of us to practive the three R’s of being a good steward of the earth: reduce, reuse and recycle. Last weekend
I walked around my small town on community cleanup day looking for hidden
treasures in others’ trash. During cleanup day, residents can put out items that are not accepted in
regular trash pickup. My finds included plastic pots and bricks for edging. I
will use some of these pots for replanting houseplants; the rest will be
recycled.
It is ironic that the horticulture industry, whose goal is to beautify our yards
and help us appreciate nature, is the same industry that uses millions of
plastic pots each year. Most of these end up in landfills. According to the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 28.9 million tons of plastic containers
were generated in 2005. Plastics are a rapidly growing segment of municipal
solid waste. The largest category of plastics includes pots and flat trays that
hold your plants. In 2004, Penn State University College of Agriculture
Sciences estimated that cell packs, flats and assorted nursery pots alone
account for more than 320 million pounds of waste each year.
Ultimately the solution is for the industry to go “green” and offer plants in biodegradable pots. This year, the University of Missouri
College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources is using 100 percent
biodegradable pots to grow plants such as vegetables and herbs. These pots can
be put into the ground with the plants still inside. Roots grow through the
walls of the pot and into the soil. The pots eventually dissolve into
fertilizer. These pots may cost a little more than plastic, but they won’t end up in a landfill. Another benefit is that plants experience less
transplant shock and root disturbance when the pot stays intact and is planted
in the ground.
There are several research projects underway to develop “bioplastics” for use as pots. Formulas of commercially available biodegradable pots vary;
they can be made of wood fiber, paper, peat moss or animal products such as cow
manure. One drawback of these containers is that some tend to be more fragile
than plastic containers. Ball Horticultural Company has created Ellepots. These
“plantable pots” are made from degradable, non-woven paper. Until the horticulture industry is
able to move full steam ahead with using biodegradable pots, it is our job as
gardeners to recycle or reuse plastic containers.
University of Illinois Extension is trying to make a small dent in the number of
pots that are sent to the landfill. This Saturday, May 23, from 9 a.m. to noon,
Master Gardeners will host a “Recycle Your Plastic Garden Pots” event. This event will be held at Hundman Lumber, 2994 J. David Jones Parkway,
Springfield (across from the airport entrance).
Hundman Lumber will transport collected pots to Bloomington. McLean County
Master Gardeners have a central collection site for the pots. Their goal is to
collect enough to fill a semi-trailer. When this goal is met, the pots will be
shipped to Michigan where they will be made into new pots.
No food or beverage containers will be accepted. Three categories of plastic
pots will be accepted, #2, #5 and #6. Number 2 pots are HDPE, High Density Polyethylene. These are usually ribbed and
have a hole in the center of the bottom of the pot.
Number 5 pots are PP, polypropylene. This includes pots and some trays with mesh
bottoms. In a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors, they are usually marked
on the bottom with the symbol. Number 6 pots are PS, polystyrene. Most trays
and cell packs are polystyrene.
To ease handling and speed up the dropoff process, please have plastics sorted.
Separate according to type of plastic regardless of size, style or color.
Remove all loose dirt and contaminants. Remove all metal hangers from baskets,
as well as metal rings and staples. Remove all tags from pots and trays.
Organizations that would like pots to reuse should call (217) 782-4617. Indicate
the size and quantity of containers needed.
Contact Jennifer Fishburn@fishburn@illinois.edu.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2009.
