If You Are Landscaping This Summer, Consider Using Recycled Products

It’s cold outside, and if you are cooped up inside, now is a great time to thumb through some landscaping magazines for design ideas to create an eco-friendly back yard environment.  If you are considering doing some landscaping this summer, consider using products that are made from recycled materials.  There are more products to choose from now than ever before.

Products Made From Recycled Plastic

Trex is the largest plastic bag recycler in the United States and they produce plastic decking from recycled plastic bags.  In 2010, Trex collected and recycled 3.1 billion grocery bags from the community to manufacture their products.  Their recycling efforts saved some 400 million pounds of plastic and wood scrap from being dumped into landfills.

Trex collects their plastic bags from in store collection bins, to hosting contests throughout communities across the United States.   In fact, 70% of all plastic bags recycled in the U.S. are part of an in store collection program used by Trex.

Each year, Trex also holds a school wide recycling contest to see who can collect the most plastic bags to be recycled.  The contest is called ‘The Plastic Bag Challenge’, and the students really get into it as the prize is new playground equipment.  The contest officially runs between America Recycles Day on November 15,  and ends on Earth Day on April 22.  The plastic bags that Trex accepts from the community need to be clean and dry, but include plastic grocery bags, plastic department store bags, newspaper sleeves, dry cleaning bags, plastic bread bags, plastic produce bags and zip lock bags.  If you would like Trex to help start a local recycling program in your community, school or university, contact Trex for details.

Poly Wood Outdoor Furniture is another company that makes all of their patio furniture from recycled plastic.  Their furniture is heavy weight and durable, looks like real wood, but never needs sanding or painting.  Their furniture is all weather that can withstand  rain, snow, salt water, sun, or ice and the best feature is that the furniture transforms landfill waste into usable products.

Solar Lighting

Remember to incorporate solar lighting into your design plans for an eco-friendly, beautiful way to light up specific features or path ways.  This will reduce your electricity costs and create an ambiance full of warm light.   Solar lights are an inexpensive way to brighten up any garden area.

Plants

When choosing plants, consider your region.  If you live in an area with high amounts of rainfall you will want to include plants which thrive in wet conditions and make sure your garden has proper drainage.  Even if you’re designing for a region with plenty of water, you’ll still need to consider where the water for your garden comes from.  Bear in mind the energy and chemicals used in bringing you your tap water and think about how you can make the most of rainwater you receive.  Similarly if you’re planning for a dry region, your garden design should conserve water and use plants which can cope with minimal rainfall or drought.  You may want to think about using low maintenance plants requiring minimal care and attention that you can relax in as well as look after.  Make sure that when you are purchasing your plants, you bring along a few reusable shopping bags to bring them home with.

 

Speak Your Mind

Copyright © 2024 Custom Grocery Bags. All Rights Reserved