Source: NCDA&CS, 7/6/15

Flower lovers now will not only be able to buy plants at the Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market, but they can also recycle the plastic pots the plants come in, thanks to a new pilot program that began July 1.

“Farmers markets are great hubs of activity, particularly when it comes to plants and gardening supplies,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “So it made sense to us to dedicate a space where visitors could bring in these plastic pots and the bags soil and other amendments come in to be recycled. We anticipate being able to keep a lot of plastic containers out of the landfills through this effort.” 

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is partnering with the N.C. Nursery and Landscape Association, the N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service, and Waste Reduction Partners to look for ways to boost the recycling of agricultural plastics, from the grower level to homeowners.

This site, which is located near the Retail Garden Center, is expected to mainly serve consumers. The site will be open during regular market hours.

Waste Reduction Partners is a team of volunteer retired engineers and scientists who provide N.C. businesses with waste- and energy-reduction assessments and non-regulatory technical assistance. WRP volunteers work closely with partner agencies to find recyclers in North Carolina and to understand the growers’ needs and help find solutions for recycling their agricultural plastics. 

For more about the WRP efforts, contact Bev Fermor, WRP recycling coordinator, at 919-597-0698 or by email at bfermor@tjcog.org.