Acceptable garden plastic includes cell packs, trays, pots of all sizes and hanging basket containers. New this year, gardeners must sort and separate their plastic by its numbered type, to recycle for grinding and making into new products. Each collection trailer is marked with simple sorting instructions and symbols to separate #6 plastic (polystyrene cell packs and trays) from #2 and #5 plastic (all other pots). Recyclers are also asked to shake soil and rocks out of containers and remove all metal hangers, rings or other materials which can interfere with the plastic grinding process. Garden edging, plastic sheeting materials and food plastic will not be accepted. No clay pots, please!
Horticultural plastic amassed from the collections will be recycled into other industry products, including new cell packs and trays, shipping pallets, and landscaping timbers for building retaining walls.
In 2006, the Garden purchased a granulator and conveyor to process plastic into chips, doubling the former capacity. In 2007, materials were separated by the type of plastic so that it could be more easily marketed and recycled into other products. Proceeds from the sale of plastic chips are used to continue the annual collection. In addition, we have contracted with various recycling companies to have our plastic made into landscape timbers.