New recycling plant
Monday March 06 2006
Members of the FarmPlas Network recently saw the installation of the new recycling plant, based in South Wales, which will be the foundation of the service being offered to farmers.
The new multi-million pound plant accepts farm plastic directly from collection schemes. Here it is washed of all contamination and recycled into plastic pellets. These plastic pellets are then used in the manufacture of farm film and other plastic products.
This new recycling technology underpins the sustainable nature of the FarmPlas Network, which has been established as a simple and environmentally acceptable solution for farmers dealing with contaminated farm plastics nationwide.
The FarmPlas Network brings together regional collection schemes to share best practice and to establish a cost-effective, high quality service for farmers nationwide.
With just one phone call to the FarmPlas hotline farmers will be given the details of their nearest collection scheme. All farm plastics can be collected. For example, silage wrap (separated from netting and string), silage sheeting, crop film, polytunnel film, feed bags, fertilizer bags, bottles and containers. Each collection scheme will be able to advise on how to store the plastic and provide a cost for collection.
As many of the collection schemes are farm-based there is a real understanding of the issues farmers face. FarmPlas is now intending to increase its network to incorporate more UK farms. Hannah Kendall, spokeswoman for the organisation said: “Although this is a national network the schemes are local and it is our job to help farmers get in touch with their nearest scheme. In areas where a scheme is not already up and running, we will encourage interested farmers to start schemes and join the network themselves,” she added.
