By Cathy Cirko
This year’s new gardening and landscaping trends may take the phrase "going green" one step further by including some of the "growing" list of innovative products made from recycled plastics. Ranging from plastic lumber for decking and fences to decorative edging, furniture, planters, bird feeders and hanging baskets, recycled plastic products are gaining acceptance across the country.
These products are lightweight, durable, and easy to keep clean. Plus, they can withstand the elements so they can be left outside all-year long. Many of these items also look like the real thing. Take the example of a terra cotta look-alike pot. The planter made from recycled plastic offers the warmth and colour of clay but it’s a lot lighter, tougher and will last longer than the clay alternative.
These products help create demand for recycled plastic. But, in order for plastics recycling to continue to be viable, the market for recycled plastic resin needs to be stable and dependable. Community and industrial recycling programs rely on these markets. And, a steady supply and demand situation translates into a greater selection of products for consumers at more affordable prices.
Over the last 10 years alone, the plastics industry has invested over $1billion in recycling initiatives across North America. The number of plastics recycling companies during that same period has more than tripled. Both industry and the public are working hard to make plastics recycling a successful component of a community’s integrated and sustainable waste management strategy.
Plastics’ versatility shines
Plastic is an extremely versatile material and recycled plastic retains that feature. One of the major garden and landscaping applications for recycled plastics is lumber. The product reacts almost like wood, aside from the fact that it can’t be stained. It cuts like wood, and can be sawn, drilled, sanded, mitered or routered with standard power tools. But, unlike its wooden counterpart, plastic lumber can stand up to many years of heavy use without ever warping, cracking or splintering. When viewed in relation to both the capital costs and the ongoing maintenance cost of lumber, plastic lumber also proves to be extremely cost-effective.
Plastic lumber products come in all styles and configurations. Included in industry product catalogues are: Muskoka-style chairs (some of which have been made from 240 recycled plastic milk jugs) and rockers, with matching footstools and side tables; stylish arm chairs and benches; bar stools and chaise lounges; planters; trellises; park and garden benches; picnic tables; landscaping timber; steps; sand boxes; as well as both tongue-and-groove and finished boards. Colours range from light grey, sandstone, brown, beige and redwood and can be molded with a wood-grain texture.
Plastic lumber is also less slippery when wet than conventional lumber, making it perfect for docks, marine piers and open-air patios. Sealants won’t ever be required because plastic is impervious to water. You won’t need to paint it because the colour is molded right in and you won’t have to spray it for ants and other insects. Plus, the exposed ends can remain untreated.
Beyond lumber
Although recycled plastic is used widely in the plastic lumber industry (in both prefab and non-prefab applications), there are other gardening and landscaping applications where it has also gained popular acceptance. For example, recycled plastic products are used in the horticulture industry for nursery trays, flats and shuttles. Similarly, plastic "inserts" are used to hold fragile flower seedlings and individual vegetable plantings.
Yet another innovative application is fencing. The Vexar fencing from DuPont Canada Company has earned the federal government’s Environmental Choice label and is easier to install and safer to handle than chain-link fencing. It’s a rigid, sturdy fence that stands up well without sagging and requires fewer supports. Ve
