Cleanfarms helps Canadian farmers recycle agricultural plastics. (Photo: Cleanfarms)

By Alice McFarlane

Canadian farmers continue to recycle agricultural plastics

Oct 13, 2022 | 12:18 PM

MELFORT, SK – Canadian farmers are committed to recycling empty agricultural product containers used for pesticides and fertilizers.

Cleanfarms developed the programs to help producers manage these products. The national stewardship organization compiled data on the recovery rates for agricultural packaging collected for recycling or safe disposal last year. The recovery rate measures the percentage of containers collected for recycling compared to the number of containers sold into the market in a given year.

Farmers returned 77 per cent of the containers sold into the marketplace, which is equivalent to 2.25 million kilograms.

Cleanfarms executive director Barry Friesen said in addition to the empty plastic jugs, farmers also recycle non-deposit bulk drums and totes.

“This recycling program for bulk containers is newer, only a few years old. By returning them for recycling, farmers are ensuring the plastic in both smaller and larger containers is used to make new products in a circular economy. We are grateful that producers are responding to the programs in such a positive way,” Friesen said.

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In 2021, farmers returned 54 per cent of the bulk containers sold in the marketplace, or more than 71,000 drums and totes. This is an increase of 52 per cent from 2020.

Cleanfarms is operating pilots in Alberta to collect information on grain bag recycling recovery patterns.

Cleanfarms also operates a grain bag recycling program in Saskatchewan. When it started in 2018, it was the only government-regulated program of its kind in Canada. In 2018, Cleanfarms recovered 1,257 tonnes of grain bag plastic. In 2021, 2,100 tonnes of used plastic grain bags were collected.

Manitoba has established industry responsibility on grain bags and twine.

Friesen said pilots are underway in the prairies to add seed, pesticide, and inoculant bag recovery there as well.

“Cleanfarms’ recycling programs are like the ‘blue box’ or ‘blue bag’ for growers,” he said. “We are working every day to find better ways to deliver these programs conveniently and efficiently to producers so that more of these materials can be returned to be repurposed in the circular economy.”

In eastern Canada, farmers also return seed and pesticide bags for safe disposal, as recycling markets are not available yet. The Québec government published a new regulation that targets all agricultural plastics. Producers in Quebec also return fertilizer bags. In 2021, 38 per cent of the bags sold were returned.

Materials recovered through Cleanfarms’ programs are processed by small and large companies within North America to form recycled plastic pellets and flake that are recycled into new products like farm drainage tile, dimensional lumber, lawn edging, and agricultural film plastics.

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