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Fertiliser and Container Disposal

Fertiliser and Container Disposal

Updated 2 January 2020 03:17 PM
There really is no way of ‘recycling’ fertiliser. You can dispose of it or you can use it for the purpose you acquired it – they are your only options.  It is best to only buy what you are going to need and if you have spare, ask your neighbours, friends or local community garden if they can use your left overs if you have nowhere else in your garden to use it. 

With fertilizer containers, if you can’t recycle the contents of a container, you can’t recycle the container either because of the contaminant risk. The most important thing to do is to read the label on the fertilizer container so you understand what you are dealing with. It may simply be that the container needs a good clean.

If possible, reuse the fertiliser bags: use them as storage for gardening tools or products.

The following hazardous waste schemes will take fertiliser and its container: Victoria’s Detox Your Home, Household Chemical CleanOut NSW, and Zero Waste SA. In other states there are alternative options available.
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Science Notes
Fertilizers can be synthetic, organic or a mixture of both. Fertilisers themselves are generally not recyclable. Typically synthetic fertilizers are pretty much all hazardous. Organic fertilizers generally aren’t, but always read labels just in case. Some organic matter is just as hazardous as synthetic.

Fertilizers typically contain chemicals such as phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen or the organic variety. Organic fertilizers contain the same chemicals, but in the form of plant (composted) and animal matter (think blood and bone for instance) and or biosolids (recycled sewerage). Blood meal contains slow release nitrogen and the bone contains calcium and phosphorus.  Biosolids contain micro nutrients zinc and copper.

Never put fertilizers down the drain. Phosphorous promotes the growth of algae in waterways, which takes the oxygen out of lakes and river and is harmful to aquatic life.

Related Tip
Buy organic matter fertilizers and find organic matter solutions if you possibly can – it is better for the environment, your plants and disposal.

Always store your fertilizers in the containers they came in. Never mix any chemical, including fertiliser, as unpredictable reactions may occur.

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