Alberta Ag Plastic. Recycle It! Program Extended Until December 2025!
02 Mayo 2024 - 5:00AM
Alberta farmers can continue to recycle their grain bags and twine
thanks to a recent extension of the successful
Alberta Ag
Plastic. Recycle It! pilot program.
Cleanfarms, the non-profit organization operating the program, is
excited to announce that it will continue until the end of 2025.
This marks the second extension of the program, which launched
in October 2019. Since its inception, this program has collected
nearly 3.6 million kilograms (kg) of recyclable agricultural
plastic, including:
- 3,105,018 kg of grain bags, when laid
flat, is enough to cover an area of approximately 1,359 hectares;
and,
- 462,590 kg of twine, which is enough to
bale about 1.27 million large square bales of hay.
This means that these plastics won’t spend the rest of their
days filling up Alberta landfills, and instead go on to productive
uses in the circular economy, where they provide raw materials for
manufacturing into new goods, many of which are used back on
Alberta farms.
But it’s not just about numbers. For farmers, recycling used ag
plastic waste is a key component of their commitment to
sustainability in their agricultural practices. “When we can roll
up a few grain bags and take them to a collection site for
recycling, it just makes sense,” says Dean Hubbard, a grain farmer
near Claresholm, AB, “Especially when I know they’re not going to
blow around on my property and they’ll be turned into new things
that we can use. Of course I’ll do it.”
Farmers Are Keen to Contribute to the Recycling
ProcessFarmers in Alberta play a vital role in preparing
materials for recycling and often make the difference between
whether a grain bag or piece of twine can be recycled or is sent to
a landfill. By shaking the snow or clumps of hay off used twine
before stuffing it in a bag or shaking the debris off a grain bag
before rolling it, they ensure that these materials can be recycled
and used as raw materials in manufacturing new products.
Recycled grain bags are turned into pellets, mostly here in
Canada, which then get turned into products like silage plastic,
dimensional lumber and agricultural fence posts that can be used on
the farm. In the not-too-distant future, we expect to see them
reemerge as new grain bags. Used twine is also pelletized and
manufactured into items like greenhouse pots and trays, composite
decking, car parts and more – all within North America.
“The entire agricultural industry is coming
together to create sustainable solutions,” says Barry Friesen,
Executive Director of Cleanfarms. “From farmers to collection
sites, partners like APRG, Cleanfarms members, and recyclers,
everyone is playing a vital role. Together, we’re building a
circular system we can all rely on, not just for now, but for
generations to come.”
Continued Provincial Commitment to Program Expansion and
Increased FundingThis pilot project is led by the
multi-stakeholder Agricultural Plastics Recycling
Group. Funds for the pilot were granted by the Government
of Alberta and are administered by Alberta Beef Producers. The
long-term goal is to evolve the pilot into a permanent program.
The program's ongoing success is thanks to continued support
from Alberta's Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. In August
2023, the Ministry committed an additional $400,000 in funding and
extended the program's term to December 31, 2025.
Collection Network GrowsThrough the development
of this program, the network has grown to encompass 49 collection
partners, comprising 159 individual collection sites that collect
either grain bags or twine, or both.
Most recently, the program has expanded to welcome two new
collection partners: Birch Hills County and Lac Ste. Anne County.
These partnerships have added two new grain bag and twine
collection sites and nine new twine-only collection sites, making
it even easier for farmers to participate in the program.
“Alberta farmers have embraced this program and we’re proud to
work with Cleanfarms to offer it to them,” says Assar Grinde, Chair
of APRG. “As we expand the collection network, we aim to increase
the collection of twine and expect used grain bags to keep rolling
in. We are grateful for the program’s ongoing success and
everybody’s participation!”
Cleanfarms is committed to working with Alberta farmers and the
government to ensure the long-term success of this important
initiative.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available
athttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/705673f6-1a99-4d74-b384-84718e53a534https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f3dd9a1a-5333-4f1f-b506-f6a7a65c3ea6
Cleanfarms.ca
Contact: Brian Naud | 514-556-3523| naudb@cleanfarms.ca