Closed-Loop Nursery Pot Recycling
PP5 Nursery Plastics
Recycling is nothing new and we have all learned over the years what can and cannot be put into our recycling bin at home. Many of us have separated our rubbish further into biodegradable or composting as well as recycling and as plant lovers, caring for the Earth and all that is green and nourishes us is close to our heart. Many of us therefore must be putting our used Nursery Pots into the recycling bin to ensure they are reused and we are doing our part for the environment. Sorting at Recycling facilities has changed over the years however and what you think is happening may not be. Here at Verdant Dwellings, we have joined a closed-loop recycling system to ensure when Nursery Pots are discarded, they are recycled and used again. Keep reading to find out how you can help in the ongoing war on waste.
Empty GCP Recycling Cage
What is a Closed Loop Recycling System
“Sorting at Recycling facilities has changed over the years however and what you think is happening may not be. Here at Verdant Dwellings, we have joined a closed-loop recycling system to ensure when Nursery Pots are discarded, they are recycled and used again. ”
Let’s start with what a closed-loop recycling system is, as it may not be a concept encountered before. When we recycle normally, waste is taken and sorted into type, then processed to create new products out of the recycled materials. This may mean recycled paper from an office is turned into toilet paper or household plastics are turned into new bottles. Unfortunately, for many reasons, sometimes our recycling ends up in landfill meaning our best intentions are for nothing. This is where the benefit of a closed-loop recycling system is really seen.
In a closed-loop, product to be recycled never sees a landfill. It is collected after use in specific receptacles and taken to a facility to be processed, then turned into the same product it was previously using the recycled materials. Closed-loop recycling can be used for materials that don’t lose quality during recycling meaning products can be made over and over again from the old and no or little further resources are required.
Filled GCP Recycling Cage
Closed-Loop Recycling benefits the planet by halting or greatly reducing the need for new materials to be gathered, plus minimising the amount of waste that goes into landfills or ends up in our Oceans.
Why Should we use Recycling cages
There are many businesses now that use or partly use some form of Closed-Loop Recycling. For the Commercial Growing industry, taking up these practices is vital due to the impact disposable product creation has on the Environment. Recycling at home is great, however, one major flaw exists within the system that Verdant Dwellings is working to help overcome.
Recycling facilities in the past had people sorting through the items to separate them into specific types. With so much of our life becoming automated these days, the separation of recyclable materials was taken over by scanning machines rather than humans to speed the process and ensure the correct separation of materials. This is where the major flaw for the Nursery Industry came about as these machines, when sorting plastic, recognise colours, however, they don’t see black! This means any plastic products like black nursery pots or black plastic ladders are automatically sent to landfills. With so much of the industry using black pots and products, this is a huge volume of missed plastic recycling product that ends up damaging our environment, despite our best intentions by recycling.
To overcome this issue, the largest Industry Plastic Manufacturing Supplier in the Southern Hemisphere, GCP, has developed Closed-Loop Recycling Cages. These cages can take any colour of PP5 plastic, but using them for black PP5 is vital. When full, these cages are picked up and taken directly to the plastic processing plant where they are cleaned and broken down ready for re-use. This plastic is then purchased back by the manufacturer GCP to be turned into new recycled plastic Nursery Pots. With this system, black plastic is not missed and PP5 product is continually recycled. Using the Cages lowers the risk of plastic in landfills or the Ocean and halts or minimises the need for new plastic creation in the Nursery Industry.
How Can you help Verdant dwellings make a difference
PP5 Code Stamped on Pot
Here at Verdant Dwellings, we have always only purchased Nursery Pots made of recycled plastic, plus after use, we have reused them or sold them on to hobby growers. However, the volume of plastic is large and some damaged pots are discarded. Like the general public, the belief was that plastic would be recognised and recycled, but knowing black plastic has been missed hurts.
Verdant Dwellings are proud to be receiving a GCP Recycling Cage so that all of our used waste PP5 Plastic can be taken for recycling into new Nursery Pots. The best part is that you can use it too! Simply bring ANY of your plastics stamped PP5, of any colour to Verdant Dwellings for collection. Just check the bottom or side of a product for the PP5 stamp, sometimes it can be small. We will also happily take plastic shipped to us for proper recycling and are proud to be making a small difference in the fight to save our beautiful Planet.
The most common PP5 plastics you will come across with plants are:
Most Nursery Pots
Plastic Pot Holders
Plastic Removeable Pot Hangers
Plant Labels and Tags
Plastic Vine Ladders
If you cannot send your pots or bring them to a GCP Recycling Cage, leaving the coloured plant tags IN your black plastic nursery pots will help them be recognised most of the time at regular Recycling Plants.
Making sure, by using the GCP Closed-Loop Recycling, that all PP5 plastic, but especially black PP5, is recycled and not thrown into landfill is essential, and this small change will make a big difference.
To say thank you, any customer who brings in, or sends us, over 900g of PP5 plastic will be given a discount code for use on a future purchase in-store or online! If you bring your plastic in-store you will be given a redemption token that can be used on-site, if you ship your plastic we will email you a customer-specific discount code for use on the website.
Help Verdant Dwellings make a positive difference, for the sake of us all.
Please Note: Please ensure you are giving only the correct PP5 plastics of any colour to Verdant Dwellings for the Recycling Cages to ensure no contamination. 900g of product means parcels are simply weighed, not cubically calculated by Australia Post, costing much less.
Happy Growing!