East Jordan Plastics, one of the largest horticultural container manufacturers in North America, has led a lot of recycling efforts for containers over the years, making it possible for growers and retailers to return containers for recycling. East Jordan Plastics recently received their Supplier of Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Plastic Certification. 
 

 

This certification ensures that all High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polystyrene (PS) flake generated by East Jordan Plastics at their recycling facility in South Haven, Michigan, from used horticultural containers satisfies the requirements for post-consumer recycled plastic consistent with ISO°14021:2016. It also confirms compliance with the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) PCR Certification Program.
 

“This certification is a big win for us in our commitment to creating sustainable solutions that help our planet and improve our partners’ businesses,” said Owen Diller, Corporate Recycling Manager for East Jordan Plastics.
 

Their recycling facility in South Haven will recycle an estimated 20 million pounds of used containers this year, transforming them into new containers, some containing up to 93% PCR. 

The USDA’s Rural Energy for America (REAP) program announced the latest round of grants and loans, funding a total of 338 clean energy projects. REAP enables agricultural producers and rural small business owners to expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements. Here’s a quick sample of some horticulture and floriculture businesses that will be installing new projects: 

The next application round for REAP grants and loans is due September 30, 2024. Learn more HERE.  

 

The University of Copenhagen set out to map the global extent of greenhouses, and what they found was that greenhouse growing is increasing rapidly. They estimate greenhouses cover at least 1.3 million hectares (3.2 million acres), which is nearly three times the previous estimate. They say a lot of that increase comes from low- and middle-income countries in the global south, and that China makes up more than 60% of the total global area. 
 

The study authors note that these numbers highlight the need to consider the impact of greenhouse production  on water, plastic usage and energy consumption. 

 

 

When commercial and residential construction projects take the green infrastructure path, they typically want (or need) to install greener landscaping. Hoffman Nursery in Rougemont, North Carolina, is making it easy to know what to plant. They just created a Green Infrastructure Collection that includes their existing Grass Solutions Line and their new Perennial Solutions Line. The curated plant selections are touted to improve water quality; reduce water quantity; and provide ecosystem services, aesthetic value and human health and wellbeing benefits. 

 

 
An example of erosion control options.

 

David Hoffman, Chief Operating Officer at Hoffman Nursery, Inc. says, “The Green Infrastructure Collection streamlines the process for
customers to source and cultivate these plants for their green infrastructure programs or projects, since many of the plants in the collection are approved for use in municipal and state stormwater design manuals. Additionally, our sales team members who are SCM (stormwater control measures) Inspection and Maintenance certified are another dimension of the Green Infrastructure Collection our customers can use to make sound plant choices for green infrastructure measures.”

 

 
Bioswale options from Hoffman Nursery.

 

Hoffman’s has created some handy charts showing the benefits of each plant. Check it out HERE. 

August is a collection of cobwebs, tall grass, green tomatoes and days on the water. The evenings, now noticeably shorter on daylight, turn over to cooler mornings in the mountains. I crave sweatshirts and goosebumps like some people crave beach time. The vegetable garden is still trying to recover from the heat of July. (I’m hoping the last two weeks of milder temperatures convince my tomatoes to begin ripening.) 

 

 

The dogs are obsessing over chipmunks in the woodpile, unknowingly walking toward September 1. I started mapping out new gardens in my mind—hoping for a cool spell in which to start digging and transplanting. Each day unravels with big mountain vistas and tiny pockets of flowers.