Recycling the old planters ?!

[studigardener]

I was just wondering what people do with all those old planters that are collected over the years from purchasing start off plants from a nursery? Are they recyclable ? Can they be reused ? Do the nursery's take them back?

It was just something i was thinking about. Recently i learned that there are plastics that cannot be recycled even if people wanted to. They are called thermosetting plastics.

[Kisal]

I don't know of any way to recycle the "trays" that come with 6 starts, which is the largest ones I buy, but some of the nurserys in my area will take the individual hard plastic pots for reuse. For all i know, though, they might just give them to other customers who need pots. I think the pots have to be 4" or larger and completely undamaged. I keep the 2" and 3" pots, and some of the 4" ones, for starting seeds.

I think our recycling center also might take them to give out to people looking for plant containers, kind of like they take used canning jars to sell. Maybe an ad on Freecycle or Craigslist would find new homes for them?

[rainbowgardener]

Not all plastics are recyclable, but many plastic planters and containers are made of recyclable plastic, just check for a recycle mark.

[Tilde]

The big box stores, Lowes and Home Depot, have signs saying "bring it back" but I haven't looked further to see if they actually recycle the containers (Given the ... tendencies of locals I'd be surprised if anyone brings them back. Too 'hard'.).

[john gault]

The big box stores, Lowes and Home Depot, have signs saying "bring it back" but I haven't looked further to see if they actually recycle the containers (Given the ... tendencies of locals I'd be surprised if anyone brings them back. Too 'hard'.).

I haven't noticed that, but I'm going to check now that you mention it. I'm thinking they want them not for recycling, rather for reuse. I can recycle mine, but so far haven't. I just keep them, just in case and only recycle the ones that are cracked to the point of being unusable. But if a local store wants them back for reuse, I'd gladly return them.

Reuse is always better than recycling, but this brings up a question in my mind. Doesn't everyone now have access to recycling bins/stations, if not recycling service?

[Marlingardener]

I give my pots, the ones I don't keep for seedlings and up-potting cuttings, to the Master Gardeners. The group in the city near us has three large containers for 4", gallon, and larger, and anyone can drop off or pick up what they need.
I still haven't figured out what to do with the six-and four-cell ones. I use some for seed starting, but have too many (which I refuse to just throw away because who knows, I might need them ).
No John, we don't have access to recycling bins nor a recyling service. I'd have to drive 30 miles to recycle, and pay a fee because I'm not a city resident. Fortunately, very little goes to waste here. The only thing I can't seem to get rid of or re-use is glass.

[Tilde]

They might have a turn-in credit with local growers ... local as in local branches of national companies . AFAIK, there is almost no repotting done at HD or L here.