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 programme was designed by the industry for the industry," saysAgrecovery Foundation chair Graeme Peters. "So the target is a common goal for all users of agrichemical, animal health and dairy hygiene products. That includes farmers, growers, spray contractors, turf managers and councils."
"We're challenging them to meet Target 200 and in the process stop the unnecessary burning or landfilling of containers, still standard practice for many."
An Environment Canterbury recent report said potentially about 700,000kg of containers are burned, buried in a farm pit or stockpiled in Canterbury each year.
"Thanks to the financial support of nearly 60 brand owners more than 3000 commonly used products are free to recycle through Agrecovery, so choosing the sustainable option that protects the environment should be an easy decision.
"We're also challenging manufacturers and distributors whose products are not yet part of the programme to join. Customer surveys tell us that farmers and growers want free recycling for 100% of their containers."
Empty, triple rinsed containers (0-60 litres in size) can be taken to 70 collection sites around New Zealand or to local collection events. Users with large volumes, such as contractors and councils, can often arrange on-property collection with Agrecovery. Full details can be found at www.agrecovery.co.nz.
"We'll be tracking our progress via the "Target 200" gauge on the news page of our website. We'll also keep motivating people through our partner organisations including Beef+Lamb NZ, Federated Farmers, Young Farmers, NZ Wine and Horticulture NZ.
Started in 2007 the programme has so far recycled more than 650,000kg of plastic containers but according to Peters this is just a portion of what's sold in New Zealand.
"This year the target is 207,000kg and in four years' time we want to collect 330,000kg. This would represent around 50% of all eligible containers sold in New Zealand. To meet that target we'll need every rural property in New Zealand to recycle 4 kg of (non-household) container plastic.
"Of course we'd like all eligible containers recycled but we're taking it one step at a time - starting with Target 200!"
