Plastic Plant Pots Problem

Biodegradable pots, made from a range of materials such as coir, wood chips, rice husks, miscanthus or seaweed, are becoming increasingly popular, especially with organic gardeners. There are two types: ones that last a few months and can be planted straight into the soil, where they gradually break down and add humus to the soil; and more rigid ones made from plant materials such as rice husks and latex which last up to three years and can be put on your home compost heap to degrade.

The problem is that the plastic plant pot is the gardener's equivalent to the shopper’s plastic carrier bag: we know we use too many of them but they’re cheap and they’re handy. But, they pile up, in our gardens, in our bins, and the majority of them are either sent to landfill or incinerated.