Pilot program recycles grain bags and baler twine at no cost to PRRD farmers

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – A pilot program by Cleanfarms, supported by the PRRD, enables farmers to recycle grain bags and baler twine at no charge.

Before this program, farmers would have to store materials on their land or send them to the landfill. Now, local farm operations can recycle the materials at one of eight collection sites throughout the district.

The collection sites are set up at the following locations:

The bags and twine will be transported to recycling facilities in Canada and the USA where they will be turned into new products like car parts and plastic bags.

“We estimate farmers in the PRRD generate about 70 tonnes of used agricultural baler twine and grain bags annually,” said Cleanfarms Executive Director Barry Friesen. “By taking the used ag plastic to collection sites to be recycled, local farmers can keep their farm properties clean and tidy, and contribute to sustainable use of natural resources. It is a solution that meets the challenge of managing the used materials today and contributes to a cleaner environment for tomorrow’s farm families.”

Cleanfarms says it plans to expand pilot programs that repurpose used agricultural plastic to achieve the goal of zero plastic waste to landfill in agriculture.

PRRD Board Chair Brad Sperling says he is proud of the way residents participate in recycling programs offered through different stewardship programs.

“This is a special new program for farmers and for the agricultural community that addresses ag plastics and we are pleased to partner with Cleanfarms to make it happen. We look forward to seeing excellent results from PRRD farmers that will lead to a better understanding of how to achieve zero plastic waste in the agricultural sector in years to come,” said Sperling.

To recycle ag twine, farmers must place it loosely, free of debris in large collection bags at collection sites. Grain bags need to be machine-rolled and tied down securely.

Materials that are not recyclable in this project include bale wrap, feed or seed bags, net wrap, nylon rope, sisal twine, silage bags, or silage tarps.