Do you have a recycling program for plastic pots?
No. We do not collect used Monrovia containers from garden centers for both logistic and sanitary reasons. Often, we use common carrier trucks throughout most of the United States and they do not return to our nursery after delivering plants. Additionally, due to pest and disease issues such as the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, the Glassy-Wing Sharpshooter, Fire Ants, and Sudden Oak Death, it is not viable to bring the containers back on to the nursery grounds; the resources and chemicals needed to disinfect the pots would offset the potential benefits.
Can my customers recycle their Monrovia pots?
We are working to make our green Monrovia pots fully recyclable; presently about 70 percent of our pots can be recycled.
If you’re not familiar with what can or cannot be recycled, simply turn the pot over and look for a number surrounded by a recycling symbol (known as a resin identification code). Our recyclable pots are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and are designated #2 HDPE. Most recycling facilities accept these plant pots, as #2 HDPE is the most-often recycled plastic in the United States – the same plastic used to make milk jugs and household laundry and dishwashing detergent bottles.
To find out which plastics are accepted in your local area, contact your community's solid waste department.
