Recycling Agricultural Plastics Makes Environmental Sense

Petroleum-based plastics are used for agricultural products such as pesticide containers, silage bags, hay bale wrap and other packaging, mulch film, irrigation materials including drip tape, greenhouse covers, and planting pots and trays.  Currently most agricultural plastics are disposed of on-farm by either burning or burying.  Neither of these options is desirable.  By recycling, versus burning or burying, farmers and landowners can improve air and water quality as well as provide plastic for recycling thus reducing embedded energy consumption for the nation.

Recycled plastics are typically chopped and washed to remove contaminants. They are then dried, melted and formed into pellets that serve as the raw material to make garbage bags, pilings, fencing, road signs, roofing materials, and many other products.

A number of pilot agricultural recycling programs are being tested around the country.  Many pesticide manufacturers have joined together to support the Agricultural Container Recycling Council that organizes a national network of companies to collect, chip, and haul clean, high-density, polyethylene containers to processors.  New York, New Jersey, and California are currently participating in pilot projects to recycle such products as irrigation drip tape, plastic mulch film, silage bags and shrink-wrap.

For a successful plastic recycling program, farmers must have an on-farm system for:

• Collecting and storing plastics;
• Separating the plastics into different types;
• Ensuring the recycled plastics are dry and relatively clean (less than 5% contamination); and
• Transporting the plastics safely and easily to a collection site.
Your contact is Stefanie Aschmann, NRCS West National Technology Support Center Energy Team Leader, at 503-273-2408.