Agricultural Plastics Recycling
By Alison Fransoo, PAg, Agri-Environmental Specialist, North Battleford
Harvest is time to bring the crop in, but also time to clean up around the farm. Cleanfarms is a non-profit agriculture industry stewardship organization. The programs that Cleanfarms deliver help farmers responsibly recycle agricultural and related industry plastics, packaging and products. Recycling programs include grain and silage bags, seed bags and large tote bags, pesticide containers up to 23L, chemical totes and drums, twine and unwanted pesticide and livestock medications.
Grain and Silage Bags
This recycling program offers producers who use grain or silage bags nearly 50 collection sites across the province to return grain bags.
Steps to recycling grain bags:
- Shake: remove excess debris (grain, dirt, etc.);
- Roll: Prepare grain bags by rolling and tying with twine; and
- Return: Please contact a collection site before dropping off material.
If you don’t have a bag roller, contact your local collection site. Grain bag rollers should be available for use, free of charge, at most sites.
Some sites, rural municipalities and/or watershed groups offer value-added services like on-farm pickup, rolling and baling.
Seed Bags and Large Tote Bags
Through this program producers can recycle their seed and large tote bags at most seed dealers or agriculture retailers in the province.
Steps to recycling seed and tote bags:
- Get your recycling bag: Pick up a free plastic recycling bag from your seed dealer or agriculture retailer;
- Empty: Ensure bags are empty of debris. Do not shake seed bags to avoid dust;
- Fold and Place: Place small empty bags (up to 100 kg) in the plastic recycling bag and tie at the end with rope or twine. Tie large, bulk (greater than 100 kg, usually 500 kg or 1,000 kg) bags in bundles of six; and
- Return: Return to your local collection site.
Containers up to 23L
Producers can recycle their pesticide and fertilizer containers at over 300 collection sites across the province. Many collection sites are fertilizer and agriculture retailer locations.
Steps to recycling containers:
- Rinse: After completely emptying, triple or pressure rinse to ensure no product is wasted;
- Remove: Remove caps and booklets (place in garbage) and leave the glued-on label. Remove metal handle from fertilizer pails; and
- Return: Return to your local collection site.
Twine
Through this three-year pilot project, Saskatchewan growers that use twine are encouraged to bring it back for recycling at more than 30 existing grain bag recycling collection sites located at landfills or local businesses throughout the province.
Steps to recycle twine:
- Shake: Remove as much debris as possible. Excessively dirty twine may not be accepted;
- Bag: Place loose twine in a clear collection bag and secure bag closed with twine or a zip tie. Producers who choose to use their own clear collection bags are asked to poke holes in the bottom to ensure proper drainage; and
- Return: Return to your local twine pilot collection site.
Your local agri-environmental specialist can answer questions regarding agriculture plastics recycling, and help you locate your nearest collection site. Call the Agriculture Knowledge Center at 1-866-457-2377 to get connected to a specialist near you. For information on these programs, their collection sites and others, please visit Cleanfarms’ website.