Gardening provides us with many benefits, but it also leads to a lot of waste. Gardeners may not realize how much they add to landfills each year; cell packs, flats, and assorted nursery pots alone account for over 320 million pounds of waste annually.
Garden pot products accepted for recycling:
- HDPE #2 – High Density Polyethylene
- PP #5 – Polypropylene
- PS #6 – Polystyrene
These three categories of plastics come in a variety of shapes, styles, and sizes, usually labeled on the bottom. All sizes up to a TF3030 are accepted (maximum dimension of 30″ in any one direction).
Preparation
- Separate according to type (#2, #5, #6) regardless of size, style or color.
- Remove all loose dirt and contaminants.
- Remove all metal wire from hanging planters.
- Nest all pots, cell packs, and trays of the same size and type tightly together (also sorted by plastic type).
- If you take your items to one of the Garden Center drop-off points, there will be a separate recycling bin for #2, #5, and #6 items.
Garden Center Drop-Off Locations
AB Hatchery & Garden Center *Anytime
916 East Grove St.
Bloomington
309-828-2711
C Wendell Niepagen Greenhouses *Anytime
2010 Fox Creek Rd.
Bloomington
309-828-4580
Casey’s Garden Shop *Seasonal
1501 Main
Bloomington
309-828-1424
Lowe’s *Business hours only
2101 E Empire St.
Bloomington
309-661-6467
For more information contact us at (309) 454-3169.
* Volunteers are always needed for sorting and preparing collected containers
Please contact us by clicking here or call Michael Brown at 309-454-3169 to volunteer.
Illinois Plastic Pot Recycling Initiative Program Partners
McLean County Master Gardeners
Ecology Action Center
Illinois State University
Town of Normal
McLean County
University of Illinois McLean County Extension Office
