Managers of typical farming enterprises may find themselves unwillingly storing an abundance of agricultural plastics at any given time of the year, especially after supplementary feeding or hay and silage production. By far the biggest opportunity to improve the management and reduction of agricultural plastic waste is through recycling.
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Plastics in agriculture have allowed for the industry to increase in both productivity and scale, however, the question remains - how do you sustainably dispose of all those empty silage wraps, feed bags and excess bailing twine?
For some, the most convenient method for disposal is stockpiling, or onsite burning and burying. However, this creates a significant choking hazard for stock and wildlife, and even at low to moderate temperatures burning releases harmful compounds into the air which settle into the soil up to 500 metres from the burn site, and burying non-degradable plastics results in accumulation in the soil.
Restrictions around disposing of agricultural plastics at landfill sites have begun to drive the development of new recycling technologies.
Making a former waste product into a valuable commodity through recycling avoids the cost of filling landfill and creates a convenient and sustainable solution for disposing of the 100,000 tonnes of agricultural plastic that goes onto Australian farms each year.
Recycled plastics are repurposed into anything from outdoor furniture to flooring, resins and industrial plastics, lessening the environmental toll of using non-renewable resources to produce more products. According to studies, approximately four percent of the world’s non-renewable resources are used as feedstock for plastics, with a further 3-4 percent used as energy in their manufacture.
Several recycling companies now specialise in running programs focused on the collection and processing of agricultural plastics, promoting a solution that is both simple and low cost. Regionally, Holbrook Landcare Network has launched the Hay and Silage Wrap Recycling Pilot program, aiming to provide landholders with an environmentally friendly option for disposing of agricultural plastics, supported by Greater Hume Shire Council and Murray Local Land Services through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
Advances in technology and systems for collection, sorting and repurposing of agricultural plastics are creating new opportunities for landholders to gain a long-term and sustainable option for plastic disposal. With the combined efforts of the public, government and non-government it is possible to address agricultural plastics as problematic waste products. Through participation, landholders stand to gain a long-term and sustainable option for disposing of waste plastics. To register contact Holbrook Landcare Network project officer, Thomas Carberry on 6036 3181.
