Wyevale Garden Centres has announced ‘Plan Apple’ – its first action in the company’s programme to address the key environmental issues facing the garden industry.
It is now offering its customers a recycling facility for the millions of plastic plant pots which are discarded by gardeners throughout the year.

It is currently trialling the scheme at four of its stores nationwide (see update below).

The move was revealed at the Retail Week annual conference by Wyevale's sustainability director, Dr Alan Knight, during a presentation in which he outlined 10 areas where environmental and social trends overlap with concerns of the garden centres.

Plan Apple is the first result of wide-ranging consultation with its customers, suppliers, staff and consumer organisations on the environmental issues facing the garden industry.

Wyevale was the first major garden centre to ban the sale of patio heaters last years – a move that has subsequently being followed by diy giant, B&Q, and other leading garden retailers.

· For full report, see the March 28 issue of DIY Week.

UPDATE: All Wyevale Garden Centres are offering the recycling facility after the success of the trials.