The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Bionic on January 17, 2016, 03:17:44 pm

Title: What do you do with your plastic fruit and veg containers?
Post by: Bionic on January 17, 2016, 03:17:44 pm
I always have loads of punnets. Grapes, mushrooms, strawberries, raspberries.... well you get the drift.


My recycling bin is full of them. There are only so many you can keep for seeds.


Does anyone else do anything useful with them?
Title: Re: What do you do with your plastic fruit and veg containers?
Post by: SallyintNorth on January 17, 2016, 03:37:12 pm
In an ideal world, we would be able to get our fruit only from outlets who present it in cardboard containers, or be able to take our own.

If only life were like that!

I reuse many of mine, but by the time I've reused them they're rubbish, not recycling - so I'm not sure it's better.

As to what I use them for, any time I need to carry several small things about; the large one without holes act as temporary waste and compost containers in the kitchen (saves me a lot of walking!), that sort of thing.  Usually unusable and unrecyclable afterwards, though.
Title: Re: What do you do with your plastic fruit and veg containers?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on January 17, 2016, 10:49:43 pm
We  seem to have quite a collection of mobile phone chargers, torch chargers etc.
OH seems to be bringing lots of reduced grapes just now, and ive started putting each charger in a 'grape box' with a label on the end. And stacking them up.
How long that organising will last I don't know :-)
Some trays without holes are plant pot saucers.
Title: Re: What do you do with your plastic fruit and veg containers?
Post by: Marches Farmer on January 19, 2016, 09:01:10 am
I pierce holes in the base of larger fruit ones (hot metal skewer) and use them to grow salad leaves on the windowsill.  Tomato ones get washed and reused for selling strawberries from the farm gate.  Thicker black tubs get used as emergency single poultry drinkers, wedged in place with a brick (clear ones quickly go green and slimy).  Sturdy ones get labelled and used for holding Jubilee clips, washers and rivets. 
Title: Re: What do you do with your plastic fruit and veg containers?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on January 19, 2016, 09:58:58 am
BTW, I believe lidl recycle them if your local council doesn't.
Title: Re: What do you do with your plastic fruit and veg containers?
Post by: Bionic on January 19, 2016, 10:57:31 am
BTW, I believe lidl recycle them if your local council doesn't.


I am able to put them in the local council recycling but it seems such a waste. There are only so many plastic containers you can use though
Title: Re: What do you do with your plastic fruit and veg containers?
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on January 19, 2016, 12:53:47 pm
I use them for sowing vegetables, flowers and herbs. It works a treat :)