Rural Contractors to Support New Farm Plastics Scheme
Rural contractors will be able to play a role in the revamped agricultural plastic recycling scheme with new regulations due for Cabinet signoff before this year’s election.
The new scheme aims to advance recycling efforts within the wool industry by responsibly processing High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) wool fadges into recycled materials.
Under the new scheme, end-of-life HDPE wool fadges would be collected, sorted and sent to Recycle South’s processing plant in Southland for recycling into high-quality plastic pellets for resale.
Farmers in New Zealand have long been adept at repurposing wool fadges for various uses on their farms, often reusing them multiple times to maximise their use. However, despite these efforts, the options for recycling or further repurposing have remained somewhat limited.
The new industry-specific scheme streamlines the recycling process, enhancing the lifecycle of these products within a circular economy, and draws momentum from the New Zealand Wool Dumping Group’s demand for used and repaired woolpacks.
Agrecovery says this collaboration helps decrease on-farm costs to ensure a sustainable future for New Zealand farmers.
Agrecovery chief executive Tony Wilson says the recycling scheme operator is committed to environmental stewardship.
“At Agrecovery, we are dedicated to designing effective stewardship schemes that address industry-specific environmental challenges,” Wilson says.
“The Wool Fadge Scheme is a prime example of our efforts to deliver practical and innovative solutions that not only address a significant waste issue, but also support the agricultural community and aligns with New Zealand’s broader goals for sustainability,” he adds.
Liam Murphy, general manager of the New Zealand Wool Dumping Group, says the scheme aligns with its sustainability goals, promoting a fully cyclical use for wool fadges, from the repair of used wool fadges by New Zealand Wool Dumping Group through to their end of life.
“This is the start of the innovation we have planned in the wool fadge space in which we hope to continue working closely with Agrecovery and Recycle South,” Murphy says.
Meanwhile, Agrecovery commercial manager Richard Carroll says he is grateful for the collaboration and foresight of the wool industry.
“Their commitment has been vital in shaping a scheme that not only addresses key sustainability challenges but also sets a new standard for environmental stewardship within the sector,” Carroll says.
“It serves as an inspiration for future stewardship initiatives and reflects the powerful impact of industry-wide cooperation in addressing environmental issues,” he concludes.
