Cleanfarms collected 10.1 million kilograms of agricultural plastics in 2024, a significant increase from the 9.2 million kilograms collected the previous year.The organization recovers and recycles agricultural and related industry plastics, packaging and products. It is funded by its members in the crop protection, seed, fertilizer, animal health medication, peat moss, animal bedding, feed, ag plastics, and maple tubing industries.Based on a three-year national average, the collection rate for small containers (under 23 litres) reached 81 percent, an increase from 78 percent in 2023. Similarly, bulk containers rose to a recovery rate of 62 percent, up from 59 percent. Grain bag collection in Saskatchewan also climbed to 69 percent, continuing its upward trend.“We’re seeing the results of strong partnerships and hard work on the ground,” said Barry Friesen, executive director at Cleanfarms. “It’s farmers who are preparing their materials properly and bringing them to collection sites, site staff who provide the drop-off locations, and our recycler partners who keep these materials moving through the value chain that are making this happen, day by day.”Coast to coastIn British Columbia Cleanfarms collected 88,000 kilograms of material in BC in 2024, including 37,000 kg of ag chem containers, 38,400 kg of ag film, grain bags and twine, and 12,500 kg of unwanted pesticides and old livestock/equine meds (UPLM).Small container recovery increased to 456,000 kg in 2024 (416,000 kg in 2023) in Alberta, alongside 100,000 kg of twine, including initial results from the Great Twine Round-up contest – a first-time opportunity that focused on youth engagement and resulted in more than 600 bags of twine recycled overall.In Saskatchewan bulk container collection volumes rose to 50,200 units (up from 44,200 units) while grain bag recovery increased to 1.77 million kg (up from 1.52 million kg).Manitoba saw small container collections climb to 263,000 kg (up from 183,000 kg), while ag film and twine collection reached 94,000 kg (up from 60,800 kg).In Ontario bulk container volumes increased from 4,560 units in 2023 to 4,940 units in 2024.Ag film and twine collection jumped to 2.3 million kg (up from 1.47 million kg), and maple tubing collection increased to 732,600 kg (up from 572,000 kg) in Quebec.New Brunswick saw UPLM collections reached 17,700 kg, a 12 percent increase from the last event in 2021.In Nova Scotia small container collection more than doubled to 14,700 kg (up from 6,800 kg).Ag film & twine collection increased to 101,000 kg (up from 67,600 kg) in Prince Edward Island.Looking ahead, the Cleanfarms team is focused on reaching more farmers, expanding programs, and continuing to build towards higher recovery rates with materials that can be more readily recycled in 2025. (ICE TORONTO)

Fonte notizia: https://wasterecyclingmag.ca/