Sofia Martinez
Plastic garden netting is a convenient material for gardening, but it can be challenging to dispose of responsibly. While plastic is lightweight, cheap, and rot-proof, it is also one of the worst pollutants of our oceans, harming marine life and washing up on beaches. To prevent environmental damage, it is crucial to explore alternatives to plastic and adopt sustainable disposal methods for plastic waste. This includes reusing plastic items, recycling them through local services or nurseries, and switching to biodegradable options to minimise the negative impact on the planet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to dispose of plastic garden netting | Contact your local disposal company or County Solid Waste Division |
| Alternative disposal methods | Reuse or repair the netting, or bundle it up to make shower scrubbies |
| Avoiding plastic in the garden | Use biodegradable alternatives, such as bamboo, coir, fibre, Vipots, terracotta, or waste cardboard |
| Recycling plastic garden items | 49% of councils in the UK offer kerbside recycling for rigid plastic, but compost sacks and other non-rigid plastics cannot be recycled |
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What You'll Learn
Reuse plastic netting
Plastic netting can be reused in a variety of ways, both in and outside of the garden.
One option is to repair and reuse the netting in your garden, as an alternative to disposing of it in a landfill. You can also reuse plastic netting by making craft items such as coasters, placemats, buttons, paper clips, bookmarks, pin badges, fridge magnets, hooks, and Christmas ribbons. To make these items, cut the netting into strips, and use any method to tightly pack the plastic netting. For example, you can plait, twist, or tie several pieces of netting together.
You can also reuse plastic netting for household storage and protection. For example, you can put small items in a net bag and then put them in the dishwasher to keep them safe and together. You can also put sponges in a net bag and hang it in the shower or garage to increase airflow and prevent mold growth. Similarly, you can put your bras in a net bag and then put them in the washing machine to prevent them from getting tangled with other items.
To avoid plastic waste in the future, you can buy potting mixes and mulch in bulk or make your own potting mixes from compost, sand, and coir peat. You can also use wooden paddle pop sticks instead of plastic plant labels, hessian string instead of plastic-coated wire, and make your own frames from fallen branches and twigs.
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Recycle plastic netting
Plastic garden netting can be challenging to recycle, and the best options available to you will depend on your local area. It is worth noting that some areas have a local soft plastic recycler, such as RedCycle in Australia, which accepts plastic netting. Contacting your local disposal company or county solid waste division is a good first step to determine your options for disposing of plastic garden netting. They may direct you to a local recycling center that accepts plastic netting or provide alternative suggestions.
If you are unable to find a suitable recycling option, you can consider reusing the plastic netting. Some people repair and reuse their plastic netting, extending its lifespan and reducing waste. Alternatively, you can get creative and use plastic netting for various craft projects. For example, you can cut, plait, twist, and iron the netting to create coasters, placemats, buttons, paper clips, bookmarks, pin badges, fridge magnets, and hooks.
To reduce plastic waste in your garden, you can take several steps. Firstly, you can avoid purchasing products packaged in plastic netting or bags. Buying products in bulk or making your own mixes can help reduce the amount of plastic you bring into your garden. Secondly, you can opt for reusable alternatives, such as woven row cover cloths, hessian string, and wooden plant labels, instead of plastic ones. Finally, you can source plants from nurseries and garden centers that use biodegradable pots or sell bare-root plants.
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Use biodegradable alternatives
Plastic garden netting is harmful to the environment and wildlife. It takes several hundred years to biodegrade and can cause pollution. Luckily, there are many biodegradable alternatives to plastic garden netting.
One option is to use biodegradable insect netting made from corn starch. This type of netting will keep out a wide range of garden pests, including insects and butterflies, and can be left outdoors for at least three years. After that, it will start to break down into carbon dioxide and water, fully composting without leaving any fragments of plastic in your garden.
Another option is to use netting made from natural materials such as jute, hemp, or cotton. These types of netting are better for the environment and will not leach plastic into your soil. However, they may rot away quickly, especially in wet or damp weather, and may not be sturdy enough to protect your crops from pests and wildlife. If you want to use natural materials, you could also try making your own netting out of jute or cotton yarn.
You can also try using wire netting, which is sturdier and will last longer than plastic netting. Galvanised metal mesh stapled onto wooden frames can be used to make individual cages to protect fruit and vegetable crops from birds. Chicken wire is another option, but it contains high levels of lead, so it is not recommended.
Finally, you can reuse common household fabrics such as curtain netting, old thin sheets, or muslin to protect your plants. These fabrics can be pegged down to keep birds off your crops, but they may not look very aesthetically pleasing and can degrade over time.
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Avoid plastic in gardening
Plastic has become a ubiquitous part of our lives, and it can be challenging to cut down on its use in the garden. However, it is not impossible, and there are several ways to reduce, reuse, recycle, and avoid plastic in gardening.
Firstly, it is important to understand the different types of plastic and their safety for gardening. Plastic marked with a 1, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), is commonly used for food items but can break down when exposed to light and heat for long periods. Therefore, it may not be suitable for gardens, which typically receive significant light and heat. Plastic marked with a 2, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), is a safer option as it resists UV rays, is heat tolerant, and does not transmit chemicals into the soil or food. Plastic marked with a 3, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), should be avoided due to its use of phthalates, which can leach into the environment. Plastic marked with a 4, Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), is also a good choice as it is safe in a wide range of temperatures and can be used in the microwave.
To avoid plastic in gardening, start by replacing plastic items with alternative materials. For example, instead of using plastic plant labels, switch to wooden labels or wooden paddle pop sticks. You can also reuse plastic items instead of throwing them away. Plastic pots, trays, and compost bags can be reused in the garden or recycled through local initiatives or nurseries. Some councils offer kerbside recycling services for rigid plastic, including plant pots and trays. Additionally, consider buying potting mixes and mulch in bulk or making your own to eliminate plastic packaging. You can also use fabric bags or biodegradable options instead of plastic bags for garden materials.
It is worth noting that some plastics are considered food-safe, but others may contain toxic chemicals that can leach into the soil and affect plant and human health. Therefore, it is best to avoid all plastic for growing vegetables, or at the very least, choose food-safe options. By reducing plastic use in the garden, we can support sustainability and minimize harm to ecosystems, animals, and human health.
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Contact local disposal companies
If you have plastic garden netting that you want to dispose of, you can contact your local disposal company to find out the best way to do so. They may have specific instructions or requirements for disposing of plastic netting, such as bundling it up securely before disposal.
If the local disposal company is unable to provide helpful suggestions, you can reach out to your County Solid Waste Division for further guidance. It is important to properly dispose of plastic netting to prevent harm to wildlife, as encounters with plastic netting can be fatal for birds, turtles, frogs, and other animals.
Additionally, you may want to explore alternatives to plastic netting in the future. Some options include using reusable woven row cover cloths or natural alternatives such as hessian string instead of plastic-coated wire.
By being proactive and seeking out these alternatives, you can reduce the amount of plastic waste generated in your garden and contribute to a greener environment. It is worth noting that while these alternatives may cost more upfront, they are a worthwhile investment in the long run.
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Frequently asked questions
Unfortunately, plastic netting is rarely recycled. If it has to be disposed of, it will have to go into landfill. However, there are some alternative ways to deal with plastic netting. Some people choose to repair and reuse it, while others have used netting to make reusable produce bags for shopping or to bundle up and make shower scrubbies.
To avoid using plastic garden netting, you could swap it for jute or hemp twine, jute netting, or metal mesh. You can make individual cages from fine 1cm (1/2 inch) gauge galvanised metal mesh stapled onto wooden frames.
You can switch to biodegradable alternatives to plastic in your garden. For example, you could use terracotta, coir, fibre, Vipots, bamboo or waste cardboard plant pots instead of plastic ones. You could also use hessian string instead of plastic-coated wire.
If you can't recycle plastic plant pots, you could try to reuse them. Some councils and nurseries have plant pot recycling systems where they organise for them to be reused. You could also donate them to someone else to reuse.
Some companies offer a bag return system. You could also try to avoid using plastic bags in the first place by buying gardening products in bulk or making your own mixes.
