Home / Environment / Home Depot Employee Exposes Wasteful Plant Disposal Practices
Home Depot Employee Exposes Wasteful Plant Disposal Practices
11 Sep
Summary
- Home Depot employee laments throwing away unsold, yet revivable plants
- Redditors discuss limited floor space and pressure to sell perfect plants
- Plastic plant pots contribute to microplastic pollution in oceans
On September 9th, 2025, a Home Depot employee lamented the loss of unsold plants that were destined for the dumpster, calling the practice "a complete waste." The employee's post on the r/HomeDepot subreddit sparked a discussion among Redditors, with some plant vendors pointing out the limited floor space and "intense pressure" to sell only perfect plants.
One commenter noted that if the store kept every plant that could potentially survive, the store would be "absolutely drowning in a labyrinth of plant carts." Another employee, who has worked at Home Depot for 11 years, expressed sadness at seeing so many plants go to the dumpster.
The discarded plants are not only a waste of resources but also contribute to environmental concerns. The plant pots appear to be made of plastic, which does not break down naturally and can shed toxic microplastics that enter the food chain. According to a recent study, our oceans are flooded with an estimated 170-plus trillion plastic particles, leading to calls for urgent policy interventions.
Meanwhile, living plants can have a positive impact on the environment by soaking up carbon dioxide and converting it to oxygen. Home Depot's website outlines a sustainability policy that includes improving supply-chain efficiency, protecting forests, and promoting electric tools. However, the company's policies regarding organic waste reduction remain unclear, with some locations involved in composting programs to prevent products from going to landfills.
