Agricultural Plastics
Agricultural Plastics Working Group (APRG)
To understand how best to deal with this rapid increase in disposal of ag plastics at end of life, the Agricultural Plastics Working Group (APRG) was formed and APRA has been and continues to be an active participant.
The APRG now has its own website: Visit www.aprg.ca
To find out more about the Alberta Ag Plastic: Recycle it! pilot project starting collection of grain bags and twine across the province in the Fall of 2019 visit: https://cleanfarms.ca/alberta-ag-plastic-recycle-it-program/
2019 Documents
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Press Release -January 21, 2019
Recycling Pilot Tackles Agricultural Waste
APRG Press Release -January 21, 2019
The Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group Receives Government Approval for Pilot Project
2018 Documents
Whitepaper update from December, 2018
Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group Whitepaper – December 6
Letter to APRG Members regarding an Alberta Ag Plastics Pilot Program
December 10, 2018
Agricultural Plastics Overview
Plastics have been used in several applications in Canadian agriculture for more than 20 years. Plastics are use in the form of baler twine, grain bags, bale wrap, silage plastic and feed bags of various sizes and materials. Since 2001, the use of plastics has grown rapidly. Packaging of hay in individually wrapped bales or in long bale-bags allows farms to cut and leave feed in the field and feed on-demand, saving time and transportation costs. Grain bags are now used to store grain until ready for market. The unit costs to the farm operations are so much lower that this trend will continue. Plastics in agriculture are replacing the need for traditional buildings to store grain and feed. Without buildings there is less up-keep and this further reduces operational costs.
The increase in plastics use has also resulted in an increase in plastics wastes. Anecdotal evidence, as well as data from surveys, suggest plastics use is increasing with limited options for safe disposal. The materials are a problematic waste for agricultural producers and agricultural businesses and pose an environmental threat.
Beginning in 2010, Merlin Plastics and Crowfoot Plastics have been accepting select agricultural plastics and have processed more than 10 million pounds. For information on how your municipality can participate in this expanding program, contact Merlin Plastics.
2016
In the summer of 2016, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry released their survey of municipalities conducted in 2015. The highlights from the survey are available below.
Highlights from 2015 Market-based Solutions for Used Agricultural Plastics: Survey of Municipalities
2013
CleanFarms, in partnership with Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD) through Growing Forward 2, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative, has also conducted research on the topic of Agricultural Plastics Recycling and in 2013 conducted a waste characterization study focused on non-durable, inorganic waste generation on Alberta farms.
Alberta Agricultural Waste Study, 2013