Ireland is one of the few EU countries to have introduced legislation specifically to promote farm plastics recycling. With the majority of Irish farmers embracing recycling materials statistics on farm plastic recycling are reassuring: in 2022, Irish farmers recycled around 37,000 tonnes of plastic wrap and silage pit covers; that’s enough farm plastic to wrap some 18 million silage bales. According to figures from the Irish Farm Films Producers’ Group (IFFPG), that represents a recycle rate of 88% of all plastics.
Ireland is one of the few EU countries to have introduced legislation specifically to promote farm plastics recycling. With the majority of Irish farmers embracing recycling materials statistics on farm plastic recycling are reassuring: in 2022, Irish farmers recycled around 37,000 tonnes of plastic wrap and silage pit covers; that’s enough farm plastic to wrap some 18 million silage bales. According to figures from the Irish Farm Films Producers’ Group (IFFPG), that represents a recycle rate of 88% of all plastics.
However, a recent study has revealed that some farmers still occasionally burn or bury their plastic waste, so, as concerns mount regarding the impact of plastics in our natural environment, we look at what can be done to tackle farming’s plastic waste problem.
Originally introduced in 1997, the Farm Plastics Regulations place a legal responsibility on all producers of farm film to support recycling. Producers should offer a deposit and refund scheme or participate in the government approved farm plastics recycling programme run by the IFFPG.
Currently, that means all product on the Irish market is subject to the IFFPG producer recycling contribution. Everyone must participate in the national scheme, which is 70% funded through the recycling levy on producers and 30% through a weight-based collection charge to farmers.
Unfortunately, however, not all farm plastics are recycled. We can see from the IFFPG’s own figures that at least 10% of all product remains unaccounted for. Worse still, in a recent study by Clodagh King at Dundalk Institute of Technology, a small percentage of farmers actually admit to burning or burying their waste, a practice which is not only illegal but also harmful to the environment.
Plastic is found almost everywhere on farms. It is used to cover crops, wrap silage, in irrigation systems, and to transport animal feed or fertilizer products.
Quite clearly, burning plastic farm waste is damaging, releasing high levels of toxic chemicals and particulate into the atmosphere. This not only causes acute respiratory problems for those breathing in the smoke, but also contributes to dioxin emissions, which take a long time to break down once in the environment.
But it’s not just those few farmers who illegally burn waste that pose a problem. Any plastic that accumulates on or around the farm can cause issues for wildlife if they ingest it, or if they become entangled in debris leading to injury or death. Plastics that degrade in the open can also release harmful chemicals that seep into the soil or leach into the water sources that are found on farmland.
Even collecting plastic and managing it responsibly doesn’t completely eradicate the problem since products such as thin plastic mulch can be difficult to remove without leaving microplastics in the soil. Despite being invisible to the naked eye, microplastics present an insidious problem, potentially impacting soil quality and ultimately entering the human food system.
Considering that plastic mulch is widely used on most farms to suppress the growth of weeds, increase fertilizer absorption, regulate temperature, and protect plants from bad weather, it seems microplastics are not just an issue for farmers, but something that should also give consumers food for thought.
Despite the admission from some farmers on burning waste, Clodagh King’s survey of 430 Irish farmers revealed that most are appropriately recycling their agricultural plastic waste.
It’s worth noting, however, that some agricultural plastics can be challenging to recycle due to their composition as well as their contamination with soil, pesticides and fertilizer. These substances can account for up to 50% of the total weight of the material collected, making cost a contentious issue in Ireland’s pay by weight system.
According to the IFFPG, the average Irish farmer who produces 300 bales of silage will pay a total recycling cost of €60, travelling just 11km to access collection facilities. Most waste is collected at one of the 200 bring centres run by the IFFPG throughout the summer at locations such as livestock marts, co-ops and agri-merchants.
These measures have resulted in the recycling rate being one of the highest for any plastic waste stream in the country, the IFFPG states, but as Clodagh’s survey reveals, farmers can still feel plastics are something of a burden thanks to financial and logistical barriers. Clearly more improvements need to be made by the Government to support the farming community in recycling.
No matter how much, or how little, plastic waste your farm generates, there’s always room to shrink that figure. Whether you opt to reduce, replace, or recycle your plastic, there are steps that every farmer can embrace to make a difference on plastic waste.
The first step towards plastic waste reduction is to evaluate the types and quantities of plastic used on your farm. By identifying areas where plastic waste is generated, you can explore alternative practices or products.
When producing baled silage, for example, you may be able to reduce the amount of plastic used with a chopper baler. This can help to compact more grass into a bale making fewer but denser bales. Alternatively, consider reducing the number of layers of plastic used. Depending on where the bales will be stored, how quickly they will be used and how protected the bales will be from bird damage, you may be able to reduce the number of turns, yet still achieve effective ensiling.
Opting for reusable containers and packaging can also make a difference. Using liquid fertiliser, for example, eliminates the need for fertiliser bags, while bulk buying fertiliser will reduce the amount of packaging. Look for reusable containers for regularly used agrochemicals and consult with your supplier on what is available. The College of Food and Rural Enterprise offers more ideas to get you started.
No matter how effective your methods to reduce plastic waste, if farm staff don’t understand their importance, they may not comply. It is therefore advisable to provide training on proper plastic waste management and encourage everyone involved in farming operations to adopt sustainable practices.
Raise awareness among farm workers and ensure proper sorting and cleaning of plastics to reduce costs and make recycling easier. It’s essential to keep plastic waste clean to ensure contamination is minimal and where collection cost is by weight, be sure to keep plastic dry to keep costs low. You can also compact your waste to reduce haulage costs.
To fully understand the best way to manage plastics and reduce recycling costs, access local agricultural organisations and industry associations that focus on reducing plastic waste, such as WRAP or the Alliance to End Plastic Waste. By communicating with local recycling centres, collaborating with neighbouring farms, and promoting sustainable practices, you may be able to reduce the costs involved in recycling, as well as advertising your efforts and increasing the value of your offer to consumers.
As the world looks to create a plastic free future, it’s wise to keep one eye on innovative new solutions that could help solve the plastic waste problem.
Implementing precision agriculture techniques, for example, might offer a reduction in plastic use. New technology such as soil sensors, satellite imagery, and variable rate application systems can optimise the use of resources to minimise waste. It might sound futuristic, but AI is already changing the farming industry with systems to apply fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation water more efficiently, all of which could ultimately help you reduce overall plastic usage.
Perhaps the most exciting solution of all, however, is to eliminate plastics entirely through the use of biodegradable materials. Researchers are currently developing bioplastics made from fungi-based materials and renewable biological substances that are biodegradable.
Not only would products such as biodegradable mulch films eliminate the spectre of microplastics, but with the ability to simply plough these products back into the soil, you may well be able to cut the time and costs involved in collecting, transporting, and recycling plastic waste altogether.
Author:
Stacey Piggott, Senior Digital Marketing Manager for AMCS Group.
AMCS Group is a global leading technology partner for waste (resources), recycling, transport, and utilities companies. Our mission is to drive sustainability in resource intensive industries through automation and digital transformation to realize an economically viable net-zero carbon future. Our HQ is in Limerick, Ireland and we are the proud main sponsor of the Limerick Show. AMCS works closely with our clients across Europe to automate the operation of facilities to convert food waste to re-generative soil nutrients across including Lindum in Finland and Valor Composting (Ortessa).
