Thurston County doesn’t have a curbside recycling program for plastic gardening pots. But that doesn’t mean you have to throw them away.

Several South Sound nurseries and garden groups accept clean, plastic pots for reuse – though most have size specifications. (And some nurseries won’t accept pots that contain labels from other stores.) Your favorite nursery or garden club likely has a policy on reusing pots if you don’t see it listed here. If it doesn’t, raising the issue might encourage recycling programs in the future.

Here are some of the programs that are in place:

n Bark and Garden Center, 3334 Mud Bay Road N.W., Olympia, accepts used, black nursery plastic pots that are 1 gallon or larger. For more information, call 360-352-2955 or see www.barkandgarden.com.

n The Barn Nursery, 9510 Old Highway 99 S.E., Olympia, accepts plastic pots that are 5 gallon or larger. For more information, call 360-943-2826 or go to www.thebarnnurseryolympia.com.

n Boulevard Nursery, 2021 Boulevard Road S.E., Olympia, accepts plastic pots that are 1 gallon and larger. For more information, call 360-352-1728.

n Gordon’s Garden Center, 308 Yelm Ave. E., Yelm, accepts plain (non-labeled) 1-gallon and larger black plastic pots. Customers who buy plants in 15-gallon pots from the nursery can return each empty pot for a $1 coupon. For more information, call 360-458-2481.

n Sound Native Plants, a nursery and environmental restoration service in Olympia, accepts 1-gallon, 2-gallon and 5-gallon plastic pots that can be reused. To arrange a drop-off time, contact Cathy Sampselle or Amee Bahr at 360-352-4122. For more information on the nursery, see www.soundnativeplants.com.

n The Native Plant Salvage Project accepts plastic pots larger than 1 gallon. For more information or to arrange a drop-off time, call 360-754-3588, ext. 110.

n Plastic pots that are 2 gallons or larger, clean and unbroken are accepted for free at Thurston County’s twice-yearly Community Recycling Days events. The next Community Recycling Days will be May 12 at the South Sound Speedway and May 19 at Thurston County Fairgrounds. For more information, call 360-357-2491 or go to www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm and click on recycling.

n South Puget Sound Community College horticultural program will accept 4-inch pots and planting trays during its upcoming spring plant sale. Hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 11, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 12. The sale will be at the college’s greenhouse, across from the gym. The main campus is at 2011 Mottman Road S.W., Olympia. For more information, call Brent Chapman at 360-596-5219.

n 2good2toss.com is a way to sell or give away items such as used pots. The Web site, which is an online reusable materials exchange, is sponsored by the state Department of Ecology and requires that items be priced at $99 or less. Recent free posts include garden pots, a Craftsman lawn mower, and a rusted-out wheelbarrow that could be used for parts. To check out the site, go to 2good2toss.com and click on the link for Thurston County.

n Freecycle Olympia is an Internet site featuring South Sound-area residents searching for specific items as well as people looking to give away goods. Items posted and exchanged must be free. The site has nearly 5,000 members. Recent posts include an offer for an assortment of hanging pots. For more information, see www.freecycle.org.

Each Tuesday in Living, learn how to dispose of everything from electronics to hazardous materials. Share creative ideas for reducing, reusing or recycling with Lisa Pemberton at 360-704-6871 or lpemberton@theolympian.com.

source :www.theolympian.com Lisa Pemberton