Free Tree Shelter & Guard Collection & Recycling Programme UK

We want to offer a simple and effective solution to ensure the responsible disposal and recycling of tree shelters at their end-of-life. With the FREE collection hubs across the UK we want to ensure that collection and recycling is within reach of everyone to promote a circular economy.

Recyclable PP shelters are still the lowest environmental impact option (Independent LCA study here: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10130156/) and represent a circular use of materials vs. a linear economy where products are “made to waste”.

Choosing the right tree protection for each location means the “most sustainable” option won’t be the same for every scenario. Each material choice has wider impacts and it’s important to remember biodegradable shelters are not a magic solution.

We recommend using recyclable shelters for easy access area where collection is possible, as recyclable PP shelters are still the lowest environmental impact option (LCA study here: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10130156/) and represent a circular use of materials vs. a linear economy where products are “made to waste”.

If collection isn’t possible due to limited access or dense woodland, we recommend our Tubex Nature biodegradable shelters as the most sustainable alternative.

Check out our dedicated blog on biodegradable vs recyclable tree shelters here.

Any person with the need to dispose of tree shelters can use the Tubex Collection & Recycling Programme. Follow the instructions above to arrange a drop-off collection at at any of our free hubs across the UK, or to book an individual doorstep pickup collection.

Collections are available 1st May to 30th September, outside of the tree planting season. 

For drop off collections at our hubs – Please check above the dates each hub location is available, and contact them to arrange a drop-off.

For individual doorstep pickup collections – Please contact us to arrange an individual collection.

We accept any Tubex PP or PE tree shelters as part of the scheme, as well as any other manufacturers’ PP and PE tree shelters. We cannot accept any other materials, such as PVC spirals, bio-based or biodegradable material as they can pollute the recycling process. If you can remove the nylon zip ties from the shelters before bagging them up.

FREE Collection Hubs – There is no minimum amount of shelters/bags for drop-off collections at any of our free hubs across the UK. You can take as little as one bag.

Doorstep Pick Up Collections – The minimum order for individual collections is 6 bulk bags – you can order these through Tubex or our distribution partners at a flat-rate of £39 ex VAT per bag collected anywhere on UK mainland. Collection for fewer than 6 bags or from UK islands will be priced on a case-by-case basis.

Drop-off collection – You can use any bulk sacks or request from the hub a Tubex bulk sack if needed.

Doorstep pick-up collection – You will need to buy the bags from Tubex or our distribution partners to enable the pick-up. Cost for individual collections is a flat-rate of £39 ex VAT per bag collected – with a minimum order of 6 bags anywhere on UK mainland – T&Cs apply.

Once the tube is no longer needed, you will need a safety knife to safely remove the tree shelter without harming the tree or yourself, and bulk bags to place the old tree shelters for recycling – you can recycle them for FREE through our Tubex Collection & Recycling Programme. With the safety knife cut the tube from top to bottom enabling the tube to be removed from the tree. Remove the cable ties and the stake, and place the tubes vertically and nested together in the bulk bags.

Download the below guide on how to remove a tree shelter: TUBEX Collection Recycling – How to Remove Tree Shelters 06.23.pdf

You’re responsible to collect your tubes and bag them up in the dumpy sacks – and we’ll take care from there. If you’ve booked a drop-off you will need to drop-off the bags at the hub. If you’ve booked a doorstep collection, we will arrange to collect your bags from you.

They can weight between 35-60kg depending upon the type of Tubex product and how efficiently they are filled. You should aim to pack 350-400 1.2m standard shelters nested and vertically. Check our guide on how to remove tree shelters here. ​

Once the tubes are collected, they are washed and shredded into flake, then repelletized and returned to Tubex where it is fed back into the manufacturing process of our Tubex recyclable products.

Currently, all recyclable Tubex products contain up to 50% recycled polymer – with some like Tubex meshes being 100% recycled already. Our aim is to continue increasing the recycled content of our products up to 100% in the shortest time possible, so we can further increase their circularity and reduce our environmental impact and the use of new resources.