Nursery Containers Alternative ways to recycle Recycling Consider Donation If the containers are still usable, please donate. Visit Athens’ Material Reuse page for ideas. Consider Alternatives Look for plants sold in fiber-based containers that can be planted in the ground. Prep for Recycling Empty all soil and plant material. Place black plastic containers in the trash. Black plastic (made from any resin type) is hard to sort and is undesirable for recycling. Athens Services accepts in their recycling most #1-7 plastics. Some plastics are highly recyclable, including #1 bottles and clamshells, and #2 and #5 containers. Other plastics might be acceptable in the recycling containers, but may not have a market to be recycled. The plastic resin type for nursery containers is not consistent, so check prior to purchase. To identify your products’ plastic type, look for the resin number inside the chasing arrows, usually located on the bottom of the item. The recycling symbol does not indicate if the product is recyclable or not. Alternative Ways to Recycle Return to Lowe’s Garden Center Return used nursery containers, plastic trays and tags to a Lowe’s Garden Center. Lowe’s will accept these containers for recycling, regardless of where you purchased them. Ways to Reuse Start New Plants Nursery containers can be used to start seeds, grow divisions from larger plants, and transport seedlings.