Bylands Nurseries: Environmental responsibility

A lot of companies talk about being good stewards of the land, but Bylands Nurseries finds ways to actually walk the walk. With the implementation of green waste and water recycling programs, the British Columbia-based nursery aims to reduce its environmental impact as much as possible.

Sales manager Mike Byland says the nursery was “green” long before it was a trend. When Bylands established its first water reclamation pond in 1993, it was the first nursery in British Columbia to recycle water. The nursery has since added two reclamation ponds and reuses up to one-third of the water it consumes.

Bylands also reuses its plant waste by turning it into valuable compost.

“While a lot of nurseries burn or bury their unwanted plant material, we have found a valuable way to reuse it,” he says. “There is definitely a science behind it and it requires close monitoring, but we have perfected our compost production. From a business standpoint, the savings are huge considering soil is so expensive.”

The green waste turned compost is added back into the fields or into Bylands potting mix. The nursery says it has helped improve the quality of its soil, aided in aeration, increased soil nutrients, and even assisted in water retention capabilities.

For more: www.bylands.com