GardenWise and Plastic Recycling

In April the members of the NGIA Board met with a group of stakeholders and reviewed the GardenWise project. Following that meeting the Board considered the project’s business plan, the results of the pilot trials and other investigations Board members had carried out.

From these discussions several major areas of concern were raised:

• The cost burden through the supply chain and the ability to either pass these on or absorb them.

• Preference for a kerbside collection option.

• The long term opportunities afforded by biodegradable pots.

• Our perception of the consumer’s willingness to pay, and the preserve with collection procedures over time.

These and a number of smaller areas of uncertainty resulted in the Board resolving that it did not wish to proceed further with the GardenWise project in its current form.

Further, the Board determined that the Association should develop a definitive approach to product stewardship and take a proactive role in ensuring “garden’ plastics are easier to recycle, that our members and customers are educated and that materials are clearly labelled with appropriate plastic recycling code. This will lead, in time, to a more extensive garden industry environmental stewardship programme.

John Liddle