Gardener’s war on waste: how to reduce, reuse and recycle

The most recent instalment of the ABC’s War on Waste campaign focused attention on plastics and the damage they do to our environment. ELIZABETH SWANE brings you a host of ways to reduce, re-use and recycle plastic and other garden waste

The ABC’s War on Waste program created a buzz around reducing household waste and plastics. But there are things we can do in the garden, as well, where all is not as green as it seems! Gardeners go through a fair whack of plastic pots and labels, bags of mix, and so on, and it’s good to know what can be recycled, and how to do it.

Here are a swag of ideas and inspiration to help you recycle or re-use garden pots, potting mix bags, tools, kitchen scraps and other everyday items, as well as loads of practical information and resources.

POTS & LABELS

When you purchase new plants for the garden, what should you do with the plastic pot and label after putting your plant in the ground? The good news is that all nursery pots with the recycling number 5 on the bottom, and most plant labels, are recyclable. Some nurseries offer collection points where you can return clean pots to be ground up and recycled by the plastic manufacturers into new pots. You can put them in your recycling bin, however

collection and recycling systems vary from council to council, and it’s not a reliable way to ensure your pots will have another life. Ask your council if it has a designated collection point for plastic plant pots.

GARDEN TOOLS

Cheaply manufactured garden tools won’t last long and can end up as expensive landfill waste. To avoid this, invest in good quality, well made, durable garden tools and pruning equipment, which will last for generations. A 40-year-old pair of good quality secateurs from my apprentice nursery days is still going strong. Good quality tools and pruning equipment have replaceable parts, such as blades or handles, and they can be sharpened. Maintain tools by cleaning and oiling after use, and sharpen blades using a stone or recommended sharpening tool.

CARDBOARD

If you have more cardboard than will fit in your council recycling bin, ask your local council for the location of collection points, or search on Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You website (recyclingnearyou.com.au) for convenient drop-off locations.

CLOCKWISE FROM MAIN Plastic bottle planters; re-using a bag to grow plants; most pots can be recycled; store labels for future reference.

RIGHT Cardboard boxes can be attened, laid over weeds and topped with mulch (inset), as a way to deal with large areas of annual weeds and weed seeds.