Cleanfarms has announced its Great Twine Round-Up contest is returning for 2026. (Image Credit: (Cleanfarms/provided))

By Jordan Rein

Lethbridge 4-H club among 2025 winners

Cleanfarms’ Great Twine Round-Up returns for 2026

Jan 19, 2026 | 1:16 PM

Cleanfarms has announced its Great Twine Round-Up contest has been renewed for 2026, and local clubs can once again win one of four $3,000 cash prizes.

The program encourages farmers and ranchers to round up clean, used plastic baler twine in bags for recycling, with the prize money supporting their local 4-H club or Alberta-based ag charity of choice.

The round up is part of the ‘Alberta Ag-Plastic Recycle It!’ pilot project, which is led by the multi-stakeholder Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG) and operated by Lethbridge-based Cleanfarms, with funds granted by the Alberta government and administered by Alberta Beef Producers (ABP).

Again this year, organizers say the challenge rewards participants for their commitment to environmental stewardship with the opportunity to give back to their communities with a total of $12,000 in cash prizes.

Davin Johnson, Cleanfarms’ Alberta program advisor says the twine program — along with the larger plastics recycling drive — has been highly successful.

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Since the program started, Johnson says farmers and ranchers have brought in around 4.5 million kg of plastics for recycling. For perspective, he says that’s the equivalent of 267 semi truck trailers full of grain bags, and about 40 trailers full of baler twine.

Johnson adds, the Recycle It! program has not only been extended until the end of 2027, but has also been expanded to include bale wrap and silage plastic.

To enter, collection bags are available at several southern Alberta waste transfer stations which also serve as drop off locations.

• Coaldale Transfer Site – Lethbridge County
• Picture Butte Transfer Site – Lethbridge County
• Iron Springs Transfer Site – Lethbridge County
• Nobleford Transfer Site – Lethbridge County
• MD of Taber Operations and Maintenance Building
• Kainai Forage – Standoff

After dropping off the twine, participants can submit their entries at greattwineroundup.ca.

An ag plastics compactor in action. (Image Credit: (Cleanfarms/provided))

The Lethbridge Northern 4-H Beef Club was among the $3000 winners in 2025.

The Rocky South 4-H Beef Club and Hanna Rangeland 4-H Multi Club were the other winners.

The program runs until May 31, 2026.