Botanic garden keeps horticultural waste out of landfills

Since 1998 the Missouri Botanical Garden has processed over 800,000 lb. (400 tons) of plastic pots, cell packs and trays through its Plastic Pot Recycling program. This year 130,000 lb. of horticultural waste was handled. The garden serves as a central collection site, open daily from late April through September. 10 retail garden centers throughout the metro St. Louis area participate in the environmental efforts as satellite collection sites. Also contributing to the collection are horticultural businesses, including landscape contractors, public works departments, grounds management professionals and wholesale growers.

The plastic is granulated on-site into small chips that are easily transported for recycling. Through a cooperative agreement with Plastic Lumber Co. of America, plastic lumber is being manufactured from the regrind and sold back to consumers for use in landscaping projects. Proceeds from the sale of the plastic timber are used to offset some of the costs of future collections. Grants from the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District, Mo. Dept. of Natural Resources, Mo. Environmental Improvement and Energy Resource Authority and Monrovia Growers also support the program.

In 2010, the garden plans to enhance the recycling program by expanding the fleet of recycling trailers to additional nursery and garden centers and making satellite collection locations more convenient to gardeners in city and metro areas. Also in 2010, program organizers will continue working with the horticulture industry in Kansas City to consider development of a similar recycling site that will offer seasonal container recycling to the public and horticulture businesses similar to the efforts in St. Louis.