Loo Rolls

[andrewo]

I don't bother with loo rolls, they always go mouldy for me and frankly I can use them in the compost or put them in the recycle to make more loo rolls. I'm also worried how ethical using loo rolls is, you are not recycling them but using the for another use, they won't end as another loo roll or paper or anything. I just rewash my pots every year, they last me longer and I'm not taking something out of the recycling chain. I'd be interested to hear what other people think of this. This is not like plastic, as this can literally be recycled after you have used it, cardboard rots and therefore more trees must be cutdown to make more loo rolls because the original cardboard wasn't recycled. It's an interesting can of worms...a dilemma!

[Jenegade]

It's true that more trees will be cut down for more loo rolls, but if I put them in my recycling bin they will be taken to the council depot and composted, which locals (including myself) can go and take a couple of bags of for free.

They wouldn't get made into more loo rolls or anything but compost. I already seem to have plenty of carboard from packaging going into the council compost process, so I don't think there is any harm in taking loo rolls out this system to use myself.

[kate&rob]

i do think we are talking very small on the scale of things here aren't we. and by putting them in the ground, all we are doing is cutting out the compost middle man aren't we. i see your point, to a point, but at least they are not going in a rubbish bag to go to land fill. there was an article on tv recently stating that all the paper for recycling is just being stock piled as there is not much call for it.

[Nicola.P]

i do think we are talking very small on the scale of things here aren't we. and by putting them in the ground, all we are doing is cutting out the compost middle man aren't we. i see your point, to a point, but at least they are not going in a rubbish bag to go to land fill. there was an article on tv recently stating that all the paper for recycling is just being stock piled as there is not much call for it.

I watched that programme and alot of what we put out for recycling ends up dumped in India. They found a letter on the dump in India and traced it back to a man in the UK who said he put it in the recycling.
The recycling is sold depending on whether it is sorted or unsorted, it costs more to buy it sorted so manufacturers were buying it unsorted and then disposing of the parts they don't want on landfills.

[janto]

hi Nicola.P we used loo rolls for sweetcorn,b/nut squash,marrows,pumpkins and toms
never had any troule at all we use kitchen roll centres for leeks 1/2 in the ground to stop the sides caving in it worked brill,will be using again this year.
all my neighbours are collecting for our allotments.

[Two_Sheds]

I'm also worried how ethical using loo rolls is, you are not recycling them but using the for another use, they won't end as another loo roll or paper or anything.

que?
It is going to save fuel for one thing - using it in your garden, rather than shipping it to the Far East for "recycling".

[rustylady]

I'm also worried how ethical using loo rolls is, you are not recycling them but using the for another use, they won't end as another loo roll or paper or anything.

Surely recycling is about re-using things, and it takes no energy at all (apart from your own labour) to use them as biodegradable pots. This must be better than buying peat pots, and as you plant the loo rolls with the beans or peas and they rot down in the soil they are contributing to the fertility of your plot.

[vegnut]

I'm starting to save mine for next year as of now. Still will use my rootrainers cos they're really good. But had good success with loo rolls last year, so gonna use more of them. We get through a fair amount of them in our house.

[RedThorn]

Was thinking of getting deep root trainers... then played with the origami!
know what I'm gonna try

[Gro-Bag]

Reduce, re-use, recycle - it's all good stuff, in that order. (Wouldn't want to take the 'reduce' too far with loo rolls though : ) )The loo roll root trainers and newspaper pots are great tips, thanks folks, will be making use of them in future. And what doesn't get re-used that way gets composted or otherwise recycled - no probs!

[Demeter]

Reduce, re-use, recycle - it's all good stuff, in that order. (Wouldn't want to take the 'reduce' too far with loo rolls though : ) )

Ah, you might not feel that way if you have ever had a baby in cloth nappies
(We still keep a lidded bucket in the bathroom for cloth bumwipes...although I must admit it doesn't get used as much as it used to lol)