If you’ve spent the summer filling pots and containers around your Isle of Wight garden, you’ve probably ended up with a stack of empty plastic ones by now, and wondered what to do with them. It’s a question more Island households are asking than you might think, and a new investigation has just shown why the answer isn’t as simple as it should be.

The Horticultural Trades Association recently carried out a nationwide investigation into how councils across England handle plant pot recycling. The results were disappointing: only 44% of councils currently collect the non-black plastic pots that most garden centres and growers now use, despite a legal obligation to do so following the government’s Simpler Recycling reforms earlier this year.

That patchy collection isn’t just frustrating for gardeners trying to do the right thing. The HTA estimates it could cost the horticultural industry around £750,000 a year in additional recycling fees, simply because so many councils aren’t set up to collect pots that are, in fact, perfectly recyclable. Here on the Island, checking with your local authority before you bin your pots is well worth the two minutes it takes.

In the meantime, there’s plenty you can do closer to home. Many garden centres run their own pot take-back schemes, and reusing pots for cuttings or seedlings is often the simplest option of all. A good garden service will also know exactly how to dispose of green waste and packaging responsibly, taking one more thing off your plate.

That's exactly the kind of local knowledge Arb Advice brings to every job across the Isle of Wight, whether it's a tidy-up, tree work, or ongoing garden maintenance. If you'd like a hand keeping your garden in shape this summer, get in touch with Arb Advice at arbadvice.co.uk/.