If you’ve planted trees on your land - whether that’s for hedgerows, rewilding, or woodland creation - chances are you’ve used tree guards to give those saplings a head start.
Fast forward a few years and the trees are thriving… but the guards? Cracked, faded, and piling up in ditches, hedges and barns.
So, what’s the best way to deal with them?
Why It’s Worth Clearing Them
Whether they’re Corex (rigid plastic) or Spiral (PVC), tree guards don’t just disappear. Left in the field, they:
- Break down into microplastics
- Can strangle or damage growing trees
- Blow into ditches and fence lines
- Risk harming wildlife and livestock
- Look unsightly - especially on well-managed land
Tidying them up isn’t just good practice - it shows you’re taking care of your land for the long term.
Can Tree Guards Be Recycled?
Yes - and that’s exactly what we do at Agri.Cycle.
We recycle both Corex and Spiral tree guards, and we work with farmers, estates, foresters, and conservation groups across the UK to do it properly.
All we ask is that you prepare them in a way that helps us collect and process them efficiently.
How to Prepare Them
To keep things smooth, please:
Roll and bag your tree guards (separate Corex and Spiral guards into different bags)
Stack them on a pallet
Store them somewhere with hard standing access for our collection team
This helps us load quickly, safely and cost-effectively - and keeps your yard tidy in the meantime.
Bonus tip: removing cable ties helps speed things up when we process the bags!
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you’ve got a handful of bags or a full plantation’s worth, we’re here to help
Get in touch and let’s get those guards gone and your land looking its best.