Comments on: How can I reuse or recycle damaged plastic plant pots?

By: Jack Parker

Jack Parker — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:04:09 +0000

If they are not that bad in condition I repair them. Several of my large plastic pots were damaged from hail or accidental damage from the weed trimmer. I try to get plastic pots in terra cotta color for the most part. You’ll see why below.

I take a margarine container (free) and cut into sheets. I use a hot glue gun and put a piece of this plastic inside the cleaned and dried pot over the hole (cut slightly larger).

I put enough glue around the damage that it oozes out of the damaged area on the outside. I take a piece of sandpaper after curing and sand the outside back down to match the pot and lightly dust the area with red oxide primer spray paint which is pretty close to the terra cotta color. The patch is unsightly on the inside but, the pot holds dirt and is unnoticeable on the outside. I have saved many plastic pots this way and have gotten plenty of freebies.

By: Alison

Alison — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 20:17:34 +0000

Just been blogging about plastic garden waste and recycling, so please leave any tips and comments. Thanks!

http://mygardenandme.blogspot.com/2011/01/problem-with-plastic.html

By: Solway Recycling

Solway Recycling — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:09:36 +0000

In Dumfries and Galloway the issue seems to be low on the agenda also. We take in hard plastics like plant pots and regrind the plastic so it can be used in our recycled plastic products which can be seen as listed on the page below.

http://www.solwayrecycling.co.uk/recycled-plastic-products

By: Alan

Alan — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 11:31:05 +0000

There was a rush of garden centres setting up plastic flower pot and plant seed tray recycling schemes a couple of years ago, however it appears most have abondoned the idea.
I have looked into recycling plastic plant pots and decided to create a website http://recycleplasticflowerpotsandplantseedtrays.com to introduce all the recycling businesses and garden centres who are willing to work togther with the recycling public.

By: Shorty

Shorty — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:47:11 +0000

Hahaha, brainstorm! You could cut them up to make a plastic mosaic? Not the best idea, but it’s something.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:38:55 +0000

Turn them upside down and paint them bright colors, then put your non cracked potted plants on top of it and you have a plant table. I also keep my gardening tools and seeds in them on my porch (turning the crack towards the house).

By: potty

potty — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:12:36 +0000

if they are cracked, place one cracked pot inside another cracked pot. Fill with soil and away you go..

By: theclevermom

theclevermom — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:06:53 +0000

They could be cut up and used, under some sphagnum moss to bulk up pots and create a drainage space.

Chop them up and keep them in a bag in the gardening shed (or tote bin in my case)for convenience when re/potting.

By: tina

tina — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:27:43 +0000

I live near a major botanical garden (mobot.org) in the US, and they have periodic planter recycling events. Maybe you can call around to similar institutions or garden stores to see if they will take damaged planters for recycling, or if they will start a program (think of the new customers it would bring!) for recycling.

For reuse…duct tape?