The more I look at my consumption, the more things I find that can be eliminated, reused, or recycled. Since we just went through the beginning of gardening season, the pile of pots, trays, and flats from our plant purchases has swelled.

These pots and trays are typically made from non-recyclable plastics, probably for economic reasons (I need to research this). Other then avoiding them altogether in favor of a native-species sustainable garden, I needed to find a nursery that would take them back for reuse or recycling.

So what’s a Go Green blogger to do? Crack open the phone book and call the entire list of course! I found only 7 places that allow used pots, trays, and flats to be dropped off (they don’t take the paper-thin plastics annuals come in.)

• Brownswood Nursery Inc. (559-3425)
• Cloverleaf Greenhouse Growers (559-1515)
• Daniel Island Nursery (388-6636)
• Dream Gardens (744-7040)
• Lowcountry Nursery Company (849-6064)
• Middle Earth Nursery (572-4361)
• Summerville Nursery (873-3220)

To be fair, there were 10 or so companies that I could not get in touch with. If you know a nursery who will take these items, please let me know. And yes, a Go Green Map featuring these businesses is already in the works.

I also want to mention the 6 nurseries that flat-out said “No, we don’t accept drop-offs”. In alphabetical order, they are: Abide-a-While, Carolina Landscape Supply, Hidden Ponds Nursery and Garden Center, Lowcountry Mulch, Palm Trees & Garden Center, Three Oaks Landscape Contractors.

I’m the most disappointed in Abide-a-While. They are the Microsoft of local nurseries, and charge us a ton of money for their products. Maybe this wouldn’t be the case if they could recollect some of the pots that go out their doors, instead of passing the cost of new ones onto us.