Chloe Zhang
There are many ways to find free plastic planters. You could ask your local gardening centre, especially in May when people are shopping for plants. You could also try your local recycling centre, or even go dumpster diving! If you're looking to buy in bulk, a bulk nursery may sell used plastic nursery pots to the public. You could also try chatting to a landscaper, as they may be getting rid of old planters. Another option is to join your local Buy Nothing Facebook group, where you can ask for and offer free items to people in your neighbourhood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nurseries | Some nurseries sell used plastic pots for a low price |
| Landscapers | Landscapers may have free plastic planters they're trying to get rid of |
| Craigslist | You can find free containers for gardening on Craigslist |
| Recycling centres | You can find free containers at your local recycling centre |
| Dumpsters | You can find free containers in dumpsters, especially near ranching communities, cafes, and grocery stores |
| Roadside | People often put their old pots on the roadside for others to take for free |
| Commercial places | Commercial places that landscape their grounds with flowers, such as retirement homes, apartments, and strip malls, may have free pots available |
| Home improvement stores | Home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes sometimes have free containers available, especially in the spring |
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What You'll Learn
Nurseries and garden centres
> * Inquire Directly: Simply ask the staff at your local nursery or garden centre if they have any extra plastic pots or containers that they plan to discard or recycle. Often, they are happy to give them away for free rather than incur disposal costs.
> * Check Their Dumpsters: Some nurseries may discard their excess plastic pots in dumpsters or recycling bins. With permission from the management, you can check these areas for usable plastic planters. This practice is known as dumpster diving and can yield surprising results.
> * Attend Plant Sales: Nurseries and garden centres often hold plant sales, where they offer discounted or end-of-season plants. During these sales, they may also give away or significantly discount plastic planters to make room for new inventory. Keep an eye out for such events and take advantage of the opportunities they present.
> * Offer an Exchange: If you have gardening skills or knowledge, consider offering your services or expertise in exchange for plastic planters. For example, you could propose to repot plants for the nursery or provide gardening advice to customers in exchange for taking home some of their excess plastic pots.
> * Build a Relationship: Frequent your local nursery or garden centre and build a rapport with the staff. Express your interest in acquiring plastic planters, and they may keep you in mind when they have excess inventory to give away. They might even set aside desirable planters for you.
Remember to be respectful and courteous when approaching nurseries and garden centres for free plastic planters. By fostering positive relationships and showing your appreciation, you increase the chances of ongoing access to free resources.
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Craigslist and Facebook groups
Craigslist is a great place to find free plastic planters and other gardening supplies. To find free plastic planters on Craigslist, you can search for "free stuff" or "free planters" in the "for sale" section of your local Craigslist site. You can also try searching for specific types of planters, such as "pots" or "planters".
For example, a quick search on the SF Bay Area Craigslist site reveals several listings for free planters and pots. One listing offers a variety of pots and planters, including ceramic and plastic options, for free. Another listing offers free railing brackets for a window box planter.
In addition to searching for free items, you can also try searching for inexpensive or discounted planters on Craigslist. For example, a set of vintage terra cotta clay garden pots are being sold for $25, and a half wine barrel planter is available for $30.
Facebook groups can also be a great resource for finding free plastic planters. There are often local "Buy Nothing" groups on Facebook where community members offer items they no longer need to others for free. These groups can be a great way to find free planters and other gardening supplies, as well as to connect with fellow gardeners in your area.
In addition to "Buy Nothing" groups, there may be other Facebook groups dedicated to gardening, plant swaps, or free items in your area where you can find free plastic planters. It's worth searching for groups using a combination of these keywords and your location to see what comes up.
When using Craigslist or Facebook groups to find free plastic planters, it's important to act quickly as items are often claimed by the first person to respond. It's also a good idea to have a list of the specific types and sizes of planters you're looking for, as well as to be open to unique or creative alternatives that may be offered for free.
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Recycling centres
Additionally, some garden centres have struck deals with local recycling plants, such as Barton Grange in Lancashire. The Garden Centre Group, including Wyevales, stopped their pot recycling service in 2011, while Dobbies and Notcutts discontinued their 'bring back your pots' scheme in 2012. However, Notcutts still undertakes to recycle 75% of its waste.
Some garden centres have also partnered with plastic recyclers to collect and reuse plastic pots. For instance, in 2009, The Home Depot started a recycling program in partnership with East Jordan Plastics to collect and reuse plastic pots from any garden centre. East Jordan Plastics recycles the plastic pots that hold flowers, plants, bushes, and trees, producing 100% recyclable plant trays and containers for greenhouses, nurseries, and garden centres.
Local authorities may also collect pots, tubs, and trays in their kerbside collections, so it is worth checking with your local council to see if they offer this service.
Finally, some recycling centres may have a designated area where people can drop off their plastics. It is worth asking permission to take a look and see if there are any suitable plastic planters that can be given a new lease of life.
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Roadside and trash bins
If you're looking for free plastic planters, it's worth keeping an eye out when you're walking or driving around your neighbourhood, especially around springtime when people are buying lots of plants. You might spot some discarded planters on the side of the road or at the end of people's driveways, particularly on trash day.
You can also try asking friends and family, or putting out an ad on social media or in your local advertising. Someone might be sitting on a collection of plastic planters they're willing to part with. You could also offer to pick them up from people, and local garden clubs may have some leftovers too.
Landscapers and contractors are another good source of free plastic planters. They might be trying to get rid of hundreds of plastic planters, so it could be worth chatting to a landscaper you know, or calling around some local landscaping companies.
In addition, some big retailers like Home Depot and Lowes have been known to give away free plant pots, so it's worth asking an employee in the garden centre if they have any available.
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Commercial landscapers
As a commercial landscaper, you may be looking for ways to source free plastic planters to keep costs down for your business. Here are some ideas on where to find them:
Nurseries and Garden Centres
Nurseries that sell to the public and contractors may sell used black plastic nursery pots at a very low cost, or even give them away for free. It's worth calling around to enquire.
Local Community Groups
Join local community groups, such as the Buy Nothing group on Facebook, to keep an eye out for people giving away free planters.
Commercial Properties
Retirement homes, apartments, and strip malls often landscape their grounds with flowers. As they tend to use annuals, they replant every year. Reach out to these businesses and ask if you can take their old planters off their hands.
Roadside and Driveways
Keep an eye out for discarded planters left on the side of the road or at the end of people's driveways, especially around spring when people are buying more plants.
Recycling Centres
When taking your recycling to the centre, check the plastics area for any containers that could be used as planters. Be sure to ask permission first.
Craigslist
Check the "free" category on Craigslist to find all sorts of containers that could be used for gardening.
Dumpsters
Have a look in the dumpsters of companies that decorate indoor spaces with plants, such as malls and other businesses. You may need to don your oldest clothes for this method!
Happy hunting, and good luck with your landscaping endeavours!
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Frequently asked questions
You can find free plastic planters on the side of the road, especially near the end of people's driveways or on trash day in May. You can also find them at recycling centres, in dumpsters, and on Craigslist.
Yes, you can join your local Buy Nothing group on Facebook to find free items, including plastic planters.
You can find free plastic planters at Home Depot and Lowes, especially in the spring. You can also ask at your local gardening centre, or look out for planters at cafes and restaurants that are closing down.
