Prevent, Reuse and Recycle Policy
Waste has become such an important topic and rightly so. As a responsible business Provender Nurseries aim to keep waste to a minimum.With the correlating rise in enquiries and the rise of interest in many channels on the recycling of waste product in the industry Provender Nurseries has decided to inform our customers of our commitment to waste recovery used on site.
The most common question asked is ‘Can I return my plastic pots to you?’ If only the answer were as simple as the question! Returning of plastic pots has implications for all businesses involved: potential of spread of pests and diseases, waste carrier licences, waste recycling charges and time.
Many pots are made from different plastics and so the whole recycling process is not straightforward. There is a need to sort through pots to determine the types of plastics they are made from. Each plastic type then is required to be separately packed ready for recycling. If pots are to be used they need to be sterilised before they can be re-used on site due to the potential to spread pests and diseases.
The best recycling of plastic pots is to re-use until the pots are of no use anymore.
In simple terms Provender Nurseries can take back 10L pots and larger from plants only on pots that we have supplied. We do try to re-use these for potting up root balled plants and potting up plants on site when needed. Please ensure all returned pots are unbroken and cleaned.
The HTA have guidelines on plastic recycling for HTA members and can be found here: HTA Plastic recycling for HTA members
Waste carrying licences are a legal requirement and all landscaping / gardening businesses that generate their own waste material should have one to transport green waste and plastic waste. Government guidelines for waste carrying licences can be found here: Disposal of business or commercial waste
As a business Provender Nurseries strive to be responsible in all aspects of waste and environment management. All waste material has to be sorted, separated and graded before any action can be taken in terms of reuse or recycling.
Recently we have implemented waste management procedures on site that may not be evident at first glance:
Separate bins are used on all working areas on site to sort waste as it is generated
- Timber. Sent to be processed
- Plastic. Soft plastics such as plastic pallet wrapping is baled and sent for recycling
- Cardboard. Baled and sent for recycling
- Metal. Sold for scrap
- Electricity. 90% of lights on site are now LED reducing our demand for electricity
- Plastic.
- Soft Plastic. Baled and sent for recycling
- Hard Plastic. Pots / Trays / Labels. Baled and sent for recycling
Other projects we are working on:
- Water
- Chemical
- Growing Media
- Paper
It is our duty as horticulturists and general lovers of our great green planet to do what we can where we can. We can always do better and that is our aim, to reduce, reuse and recycle more wherever that is possible.