Plastic tax boosts recycling

Garden centres are racing to cut single-use plastic packaging as a new plastic tax comes in this month. Most plant pots and bedding trays sold containing plants, as well as compost sacks, will be hit by charges unless they contain 30 per cent or more recycled plastic. Currently about 22 per cent of plastic in compost sacks is recycled, although all major manufacturers are now pledging to increase this.

Leading garden centre chain Dobbies is rolling out compost bag recycling schemes and sells house plants in biodegradable coir pots. But reducing single-use plastic is proving tricky. Kent garden centre EdibleCulture offers reusable compost sacks and cardboard pots for taking plants home. Co-owner David Ware says it’s a ‘massive ask’ for larger garden centres to break old habits. “But customer power takes over,” he says. “Our customers want us to help the environment.”