Milton, Ontario — With an early gardening season across Canada, gardeners will soon have more options when it comes to responsibly disposing of their garden pots and trays. Over 26 Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) members have eagerly pledged their support to the 2013 cause, from 6 different provinces. The program was launched in 2010, when just six garden centres collected more than 53,000 pounds of plastic, and last year participating garden centres collected 91,229 pounds. This annual program is growing in popularity, however collecting garden plastics for reuse isn’t as easy as it seems. Customers often bring an assortment of flowerpots back to nurseries, hoping that they can be replanted. Returns may be declined in an effort to control the spread of serious plant pests and disease, unless centres have made arrangements with a professional recycler that will help ensure proper sterilization of the plastics before being reused. Processors who recycle soil-laden pots are few. Luckily, a number of recycling partners across the country have stepped up to work with independent garden centres to offer recycling opportunities from June 21 – July 1st.
O’Neill’s Gardenland in Spaniards Bay, Newfoundland will be participating in the program for the third time –
“Participating in The National Plastics Recycling Event has helped bring awareness to our customers and staff about the importance of good stewardship” says Garden Centres Canada Chair, Anthony O’Neill. “Customers see the environmental benefits that come from planting trees, shrubs and flowers each season – by returning their plastics to their local independent garden centre they can help to keep that plastic from reaching landfills, and have a net-positive environmental impact.”
Gardeners are encouraged to bring clean, dry garden plastics to one of the garden centre ‘depots’ during National Plastics Recycling Event from June 21 to July 1. To find a participating garden centre near you, visit www.cnla-acpp.ca/RecyclingDropOff.
Backgrounder
The following garden retailers and recycling partners will accept garden plastics during the National Plastics Recycling Event from June 21 to July 1.
In B.C.
- Amsterdam Greenhouses & Garden Centre, Pitt Meadows
- David Hunter Garden Centers, Surrey and Vancouver
- Phoenix Perennials, Richmond
- Port Kells Nurseries, Surrey
In Alberta
- Greenland Garden Centre, Sherwood Park
- Kiwi Nurseries Ltd., Spruce Grove
In Manitoba
- C & S Country Gardens, Lorette
- Lacoste Garden Centre, Winnipeg
- Lasting Impressions Garden Centre Inc., The Pas
In Ontario
- LittleTree Garden Market, Fergus
- Make it Green Garden Centre, Ottawa
- Richmond Nursery, Richmond
- Sheridan Nurseries, Unionville, Toronto, Mississauga (Southdown & Burnhamthorpe), Kitchener, Scarborough, North York, Georgetown, Whitby
- Sipkens Nurseries, Wyoming
- Sunshine Express Garden Centre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Walter’s Greenhouses & Garden Centre, Brant
In Nova Scotia
- Oceanview Garden Centre, Chester
In Newfoundland
- O’Neill’s Gardenland, Spaniard’s Bay
Source: Canadian Nursery Landscape Association