Agrecovery chief executive Tony Wilson. Photo: Mark Coote / Supplied
Plastic-free July is a time when many try to cut down on their plastic use, but for those on farm it can be a near impossible task, says Agrecovery chief executive Tony Wilson.
For 20 years, the Agrecovery stewardship programme has helped farmers and growers to recycle empty agrichemical containers, drums and other plastics.
"The plastic's going to be there, it's going to be there for a number of years so what we're really working on is finding solutions for that plastic and the best possible outcome," he told Country Life.
New regulations proposed by the government could help them in these efforts.
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The government's new proposed 'Green Farms' scheme will regulate agrichemical containers, wraps and other farm plastics.
It would also means manufacturers and importers putting out plastic will pay a levy to Agrecovery, a not-for-profit charitable trust, to develop solutions.
Before it was set up, most farmers would burn or bury unwanted plastic waste. In some parts of the country they still can, which Wilson would also like to see stopped.
He sees the plastic as a "resource" which can be recycled and reused. The aim would be for a "bottle-to-bottle" scheme where agrichemical bottles get recycled and turned back into agrichemical bottles.
Over the years, they've encountered 15 different plastics on farm including silage wrap, one-tonne fertiliser bags, smaller feed, fertiliser and seed bags, and agrichemical containers. There are also fishnets, tunnel house covers, tulip nets, and irrigation pipes and attachments.
"There's a whole raft of stuff out there that we need to get back off farm and get recycled," Wilson said.
An example of the plastics recycled by Agrecovery. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life
Most of the plastics are single polymer plastics which are easier to recycle, though they need to be as clean as possible. There's less demand for recycled soft plastics which have been contaminated.
Collected plastic is made into reusable products such as underground cable covers and building materials.
Wilson said farmers needed evidence that what they send off is in fact recycled, and accreditation also means the scheme is recognised by overseas consumers.
He said they'd had "exceptional growth" over the past four to five years.
Last year, Agrecovery processed 720 tonnes of HDPE (High Density Poly Ethylene) plastic, which accounts for about 70 percent of agrichemical containers being recycled. It also received 1600 tonnes of silage wrap.
If the regulations come into effect, Wilson expects this would jump to over 10,000 tonnes.
He believes there's up to 1000 tonnes of HDPE, 1200 tonnes of small bags, 12,000 tonne of silage, and 5000 tonnes of fertiliser bags out there.
"We know the farmer and grower are wanting solutions," he said.
"We get dozens of phone calls a week from farmers saying I need a solution for this or I need a solution for that."
Agrecovery was also looking at ways to respond to new technology such as wearable cow collars and how to process these at their end of life.
Wilson said New Zealand had a long way to go compared to Europe where recycling rates were closer to 90 percent.
"Europe are 12 years ahead of us in the conversation, 10 years ahead of us in the capital investment."
Feeding containers being put in the Agrecovery mobile processing truck. Photo: AGRECOVERY
The new regulations would open up new opportunities for Agrecovery to help with this. Wilson said it would "multiply massively in its service offerings".
Consultation about the proposed new regulations closed last month, with 144 submissions received by the Ministry for the Environment.
Environment Minister Penny Simmonds said the changes would bring together the services of existing schemes Agrecovery and Plasback, simplifying recycling and disposal for farmers and growers, and expanding access into a nationwide service.
"This scheme would be funded through an advance disposal fee and offer free, nationwide take-back services. And it won't just benefit farmers - sectors like forestry, tourism, hospitality, and manufacturing could also participate.
"Our waste work programme is well underway and we are progressing product stewardship schemes in a measured way to ensure they are well-considered and that cost-of-living impacts are limited."
The Ministry was now working with industry and stakeholders on next steps, with further updates expected once Cabinet makes its decision.
