Tubex ® Collection Hubs Open For 2026 Season

April 23, 2026

Tubex ® Collection Hubs Open For 2026 Season

Tubex® has announced the 2026 opening times for the nationwide network of hubs participating in its Tree Shelter Collection and Recycling Programme – with the scheme approaching the milestone of two million used shelters collected and recycled, following strong growth in returns during 2025.

Tubex ® Collection Hubs Open For 2026 Season

The scheme – the UK’s largest dedicated tree shelter collection and recycling network –recorded a 39% increase in the number of shelters returned last year compared with 2024. The figures underline growing engagement from across the forestry sector as attention continues to focus on the end-of-life management of tree shelters and the need for practical, scalable recovery routes.

For the 2026 season, the Programme continues with a UK-wide network of more than 20 collection hubs, developed in partnership with distributors and forestry organisations to provide accessible free drop-off points for used shelters. Hub partners include Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust, Forest Working Plastics Group, Tilhill, Maydencroft, British Hardwood Tree Nursery, Ashlea Landscaping and Green-tech, among others.

The latest partner to open a hub is Cambridge-based environmental services contractor, Chaffin Works. The company’s Contract Manager, Dan Palmer said: “We’ve seen the success of the scheme and are delighted to join, to help our community dispose of used shelters sustainably. To see so few hubs in our area could potentially be a limiting factor for contractors and small holding proprietors looking to recycle small or even large numbers of tree shelters. When I saw the hub location map, I thought that we need to contribute to the success of the recycling project.”

The scheme accepts used polypropylene and polyethylene shelters, as well as mesh tubes, from all manufacturers. In addition to hub drop-off, doorstep collection is also available for a small fee, offering an additional route for estates, contractors and land managers handling larger volumes of end-of-life material.

Pete Stevens, Business Development Manager at Tubex®, said: “Our protective, scalable and responsible shelters are an essential part of ensuring saplings survive to maturity. As part of our commitment for the trees, our Collection & Recycling Programme is one way we do our bit in the shared responsibility we all have to the environment — ensuring shelters are recovered and recycled at the end of their life.

He added: “The level of uptake we saw in 2025 shows what can be achieved when manufacturers, distributors, forestry organisations and land managers work together. As we move into the 2026 season, we remain committed to making the system as accessible and effective as possible for the industry.”

Tubex® says the Programme supports a more circular model for tree shelter use. Independent life cycle assessment research has also found that collection and recycling represents the lowest environmental impact end-of-life option when tree shelters are used*, adding further weight to calls for greater recovery across the sector.

As planting targets continue to rise, and scrutiny increases around establishment success and whole-life environmental impact, Tubex® argues that protecting saplings effectively must go hand in hand with ensuring shelters are properly recovered at end of use.

To find the nearest collection hub, book a shelter pick-up, or learn more about the Programme, visit: https://tubex.com/sustainability/tree-shelter-collection-recycling-programme/

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