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products for the plastic.
Renewable products to replace plastic:
Wooden plant labels and trays – These can be bought in (lollipop
sticks) or become a DIY job for the winter. They can be re-painted ready for each new season. Use a pencil to write on them. It won’t fade or wash off.
Plant-based pots and trays – There is a wide range of flower pots made from grain, bamboo fibre and are bonded together using natural gums. These compare well with plastic pots, are strong enough to take rough handling, and can safely be added to the compost if they are damaged.
Natural fibre string and twine - Sisal, fillis, jute. All made from plants. Strong enough to support heavy loads and will last a full season. Need to be renewed each winter which isn’t a bad thing because it prevents shoots and stems from being garrotted. When cut, the twine can be allowed to break down in the soil or collected and added to the compost heap.
Biodegradable sheets and netting – Biodegradable mulch, barriers and liners are available. Pea and bean netting is made from untreated jute, a natural product. It can be thrown on the compost heap with the haulms at the end of the growing season.
Powder products instead of liquid plastic containers - Select granular products packed in cardboard outers as the liner and carton can be recycled. Also a more economical way of buying fertilisers.
Substitute coloured plastics with white or clear plastics – Try to purchase products that are packed in white or clear containers with labels that can be removed. These are more environmentally friendly to recycle. Put any coloured caps or rings in the non-recycling bin, they will have to be blended with other coloured plastics.
Use recycled products such as tub trugs – Made from old tyres and as tough as old boots. The traditional wooden trug will last indefinitely if linseed oil is rubbed into it before it is used. Clean and replenish the oil each winter.
Use plastic ‘wood’ products – Tanalised timber is treated with
a wood preservative. Try these in place of tanalised timber. Long lasting, low maintenance and safe to work with. Safe to use where human and livestock come into contact.
Also consider using:
Systems to collect and recycle plastic compost and fertiliser bags – There are companies that will collect old plastic fertiliser, potting compost bags and the large rolls of cling film from pallet loads. These will be recycled to make garden furniture, fencing panels and posts, decking and other garden ‘furniture’.
It is important to recognise the difference between biodegradable and degradable plastic, and the conditions required for composting. Biodegradable plastics are broken down by the action of naturally
occurring organisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae. A material is classified as biodegradable if it degrades to a specific extent in
a given time under natural conditions. Biodegradable materials known as bioplastic can be manufactured from a variety of natural renewable materials such as starch, plant fibres, proteins, cellulose and other polysaccharides, lactic acid and plant oils. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) may be used but are not approved for Soil Association Approved Organic systems.
Degradable or oxo degradable plastics are distinctly different to biodegradable plastics. These degrade in the presence of oxygen (hence ‘oxo’). They are manufactured by adding a small amount
of a heavy metal compound into a polymer base of polypropylene
or polythene. The additives assist in the breakdown of the plastic. Degradation is reliant on exposure to light, heat or water. The timescale for the rate of degradation is controlled to ensure the plastic remains secure for the planned life of the material. Degradable plastic is not suitable for composting.
To be classed as compostable, a material has to biodegrade
in a composting system under standard test methods. Not all materials can be composted in a home system. Some require high temperatures over an extended period of time that can only be met in a commercial composting system.
Reduce – Recycle – Reuse (WRAP) http://www.wrap.org.uk/
Mike Thurlow
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