Converting Locally Collected Waste Plastics into A Clean, Durable Orchid Medium

In Hawaii, commonly used, expensively imported organic orchid growth media -- bark and coir -- quickly break down, inviting pathogens, pests and other problems for commercial orchid growers, who are striving to stay competitive amid global expansion in the orchid industry. Also, as an island state with extraordinary environmental attributes, Hawaii has special problems dealing with the solid waste abundantly generated by local residents as well as millions of visitors annually. This project will find if locally collected waste plastics can be cost-effectively converted into high performance orchid growth media immune to the problems of imported organic substrates. If so, island orchid producers will have a competitive edge, and the local economy and environment will benefit.