Synlait’s Longest-Serving Employee Joins Executive Team
Synlait's longest serving employee – a man who joined the Canterbury-based milk processor even before it began processing milk – is now its newest executive.
Speaking during a visit to a plastics recovery facility near Christchurch, she said the new nationwide rural recycling scheme will significantly increase the recovery of farm plastics.
“The new, regulated Rural Recycling Scheme will expand recycling and recovery of agrichemical containers, bale wrap and silage sheet, with a new nationwide take-back system replacing the current voluntary recycling schemes.
“The scheme has been designed by industry and - with the support of farmers - will significantly increase the recovery and recycling of farm plastics. It will be managed by the not-for-profit Agrecovery Foundation.
“We’ve listened to feedback from farmers and growers who wanted a simple take-back system that is easy to use and can take all the usual plastic farm products into one recycling.
Grigg said voluntary schemes operated by Agrecovery and Plasback currently collect less than half of the in-scope plastics that farmers and growers use. The new system would significantly reduce the quantity of farm plastics going to landfills, being buried or burned on farms.
The scheme will require the producers of plastic waste – companies which supply products such as silage wraps, or fertilisers and agrichemicals in plastic packaging – to contribute a small fee, typically around 1% or less of the full product price, to support a free, nationwide network of collection sites and services.
The existing regional network of around 240 take-back sites will be expanded to cater to the increased volume.
“Recycling services will operate in tandem with collection services for agrichemicals, making it easier to safely manage unused end-of-life products,” said Grigg.
“Take-back services will also be available to other users of agrichemicals and farm plastics including the forestry, manufacturing, hospitality, tourism and sport sectors, and local authorities and contractors. Households will also have a bespoke national service for their pest and weed control products.”
Agrecovery CEO Tony Wilson told Rural News that their polling showed 90% of farmers supported the scheme.
Existing voluntary schemes will continue to operate until the regulated scheme starts on March 1, 2027.
The regulations will require participation in the scheme by all producers of regulated products, including:
- agrichemicals in plastic containers and drums, including household pest and weed control products
- plastic bale wrap and silage sheet
- small plastic bags
- bulk woven polypropylene bags
The regulations target products mostly used in agricultural settings and a small subset of agrichemicals used by households. Products that may be used in significant volume by other industries – for example sanitisers and detergents not unique to the agricultural sector – are not targeted by the regulations but producers and manufacturers from any sector can voluntarily participate.
