By Alice McFarlane

Farmers set new record for recycling plastics jugs

May 31, 2021 | 4:24 PM

MELFORT, Sask. — The country’s farmers are recycling agricultural plastic jugs at record levels.

Cleanfarms said the number of containers turned in last year was 76 per cent. That is compared to 71 per cent in 2019 and is a new record for the recycling program.

The crop protection industry started a volunteer stewardship program for empty containers in 1989. In 2010, Cleanfarms took over the program and expanded it nationally. Until four years ago, the recycling rate was between 60 per cent and 65 per cent.

Cleanfarms executive director Barry Friesen said farmers continue to respond.

“They are bringing back rinsed, empty containers in increasing numbers year over year,” Friesen said. “It means more of these ag plastic jugs are getting recycled into new products in a circular economy.”

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In total, farmers returned more than 5.5 million pesticide and fertilizer jugs of 23 litres and smaller in 2020.

Friesen said Cleanfarms wants to recycle every container and they are getting closer to reaching that goal.

“We know Canadian farmers are committed stewards of their land and that they want to be environmentally responsible when it comes to how they manage this plastic ag packaging on their farms. We are grateful that they are responding positively to these programs,” Friesen said.

The recycling rate measures the percentage of containers collected for recycling compared to the number of containers sold into the market in that year.

The three-year rolling average recovery rate evens out the rate over three years taking into consideration factors which could cause variations such as differing needs due to weather. The rolling average rate in 2018 was 64 per cent.

The success of the program is attributed to the 1,200 ag retailers and municipal governments that run collection sites. Friesen said these groups work with farmers to get the empty, rinsed containers back.

Cleanfarms is also developing incentive programs like offering free recycling collection bags that make it easier for farmers to collect, store and transport empty containers.

Recovered agricultural plastics are recycled into new products such as farm drainage tile, flexible irrigation pipe and plastic bags.

Placed end to end, that number of containers collected in one year would stretch from Montreal, Que. to Brandon, Man.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW