Managing the ethical disposal of silage wrap and baling twine is an issue for most livestock producers and the problem has certainly been exacerbated by the ongoing drought.
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That's why Holbrook Landcare, in partnership with Greater Hume Shire and Plastic Forests, are delivering a program to enable landholders to recycle the otherwise unusable by-product.
The plastic waste associated with feeding animals during dry times can have significant environmental impacts on the soil, through contamination and leaching, as well as impacting wildlife and livestock via ingestion and entanglement. Previous options for this waste product have included landfill, stockpiling, burning and burying, and although a recycling alternative has been available for a while, a lack of promotion and difficulty of engaging for landholders mean uptake throughout Australia has been patchy at best.
Approximately 30 tonnes of plastic waste has been removed from farms during an initial pilot project in 2017 and subsequent program funded by the Australian Government's National Landcare Program. The plastic film is recycled into resin which is then sold back into the plastics industry or manufactured by Plastic Forests into a range of sustainable products including underground cable cover, garden edging, root barrier and wheel stops for garage floors. Plastic Forest is the first company globally to commercialise a dry cleaning process to recycle contaminated plastic film without using water. Managing director of Plastic Forests, David Hodge, has been hugely supportive of the silage wrap and twine recycling project, providing a local opportunity to sustainably dispose of this plastic waste and significantly reducing transport costs.
Holbrook Landcare project officer Phoebe Gulliver said, "There has been significant interest from surrounding Landcare groups, councils and waste management businesses who want to set up a similar process in their region. Holbrook Landcare is keen to share its knowledge and methods with these groups."
"Our project runs for another 12 months but we're keen to work with the councils, regional bodies and the agricultural industries to ensure landholders have an option to continue in the future."
To participate, collect recycling bags from the Holbrook Landcare or Culcairn Shire Council offices or Wirramina Environmental Education Centre at Burrumbuttock.
Participating landfill sites currently include Holbrook, Culcairn, Burrumbuttock and Mullengandra.
For further details please contact the Holbrook Landcare Office, T 02 6036 3181 or email phoebegulliver@holbrooklandcare.org.au.