Wednesday, 07 June 2023 06:55

Seeds of change

Written by  Leo Argent
Thomas Chin, general manager of the New Zealand Plant Breeders Association. Thomas Chin, general manager of the New Zealand Plant Breeders Association.

A proposed recycling levy on commonly used polyethylene woven seed sacks and bags is likely to come into effect next year.

Meanwhile, the seed industry continues to investigate sustainable packaging options. Under an amendment to the Waste Minimisation Act, manufacturers who sell agricultural products with plastic packaging, including polypropylene (PPE) seed sacks and bags, will be required to pay a fee to an accredited organisation to collect and recycle farm plastic packaging.

General manager of the New Zealand Plant Breeders Research Association Thomas Chin says the association is committed to sustainability and industry best practices to achieving official waste minimisation obligations. He says the Government's proposed farm plastic waste levy will have significant ramifications for users of polypropylene seed sacks and bags.

"Our understanding is that by the middle of next year there will be a mandatory regime in place for the recycling and recovery of plastic seed sacks and bags, with a compulsory levee charged to the importer or brand owner of the bags."

Imminent requirements include companies importing, manufacturing and supplying bags to pay a levy on small seed sacks and bulk bags used domestically. The levy would be paid at the border or first point of handling into New Zealand to ensure 100% capture and pay for the colletion and recycling. Most if not all of New Zealand's plastic bags are manufactured abroad and imported into the country.

Chin says that for several years the New Zealand seed industry has been evaluating sustainable bag options such as multi-wall paper bags which are widely used internationally.

He says there are some physical challenges, such as robustness and moisture barrier properties, which are especially important for the storage of endophytic seeds.

More like this

Plastic recycling efforts paying off

Farm plastic recycler, Agrecovery’s Green-farms Product Stewardship Scheme (GPSS) has been officially accredited under the Waste Minimisation Act (2008).

Agrecovery, Plasback join forces

The two main plastic collection programmes in New Zealand's primary sector - Agrecovery and Plasback - have agreed to work together.

Featured

Editorial: Sensible move

OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Overbearing?

OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…

Foot-in-mouth

OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter