Farm Greenhouse Plastics Abound

Agricultural Plastic Recycling Effort to Begin December 9, 2015

“Rows of White Tubes line many Pendleton County fields as farmers prepare for winter feeding season.  An area recycling program is aimed at disposing of the used plastic in an environmentally friendly way.”

>>> From an Article in The Pendleton Times, Franklin, WV, November 26, 2015

According to a study published by Penn State University (PSU) in 2014, the agriculture industy uses hundreds of millions of pounds of plastic and the amount is expected to rise.  Plastic allows farmers to increase production and decrease costs.  The most common use of plastic, locally, is for silage tubes, bale wrap and net wrap, all of which result in less spoilage of forages and increased product.

For many years landfills have been the popular “dumping place” for these products.  On-farm disposal can create unsightly piles and/or havens for rodents such as mice and snakes.

In the PSU study, 60% of the farmers surveyed indicated that they disposed of the used plastic either by burning on site or by hauling the waste to a landfill. Unfortunately, burning or burying the plastic on site may require a permit and landfill space is rapidly disappearing. (In 1979, there were 18,500 landfills nationwide but by 2009 the number had dropped to 1,908).

Luckily, Pendleton County farmers now have an environmentally responsible solution to eliminate those white mounds that accumulate near feeding areas this time of year.  The Region VIII Solid Waste Authority, WV-DEP, WV Farm Bureau and West Virginia University Extension Service are continuing a project to collect, free of charge, certain agricultural plastic for recycling.

Recycling takes the plastic from waste and returns it to the manufacturing process.  Used plastic is collected at the drop-off and shipped to a recycler where it is separated, cleaned and pelletized or shredded before being reprocessed.  The reprocessed plastic is used to make such products as trash bags, flower pots, park benches, industrial pallets and composite lumber.

However, as with most recycling projects it does take a little planning.  Agricultural plastics that can be recycled include: silage bags, net wrap, silage wrap, bunk silo covers and greenhouse plastic.  These plastics should be kept relatively clean (no mud or manure) and dry. It should be free of as much vegetative material as possible, in bundles that can be handled by one person, and collected and stored off the ground and in a dry location before delivery.  New wrap of all colors can be recycled, however, the colors must be separated.  Rock, soil and/or manure covered plastic should not be delivered as excessively dirty or contaminated material will not be accepted for recycling.

Unfortunately, this project cannot accept plastic bale twine, row covers, nursery pots, irrigation tubing, plastic jugs or plastic bottles.  Unacceptable materials will be immediately returned to the hauler.

Starting in December, agricultural plastic will be accepted for recycling at the Petersburg Transfer Station on the second Wednesday of the month from 8 AM to 3 PM.

For more information on the Agricultural Plastic Recycling Program in Region VIII, contact David Seymour at the Pendleton County Extension Office.

<< An article from last year about this program is on-line >>