Wednesday, 26 June 2024 10:55

Plastic recycling efforts paying off

Written by  Staff Reporters
Agrecovery has designed the scheme to include a phased approach to encompassing a broader range of materials over time. Agrecovery has designed the scheme to include a phased approach to encompassing a broader range of materials over time.

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

The GPSS is designed to tackle the challenge of farm plastic waste head-on, with a focus on four primary farm plastics waste streams in the first 3 years of the scheme being in effect: agrichemical containers, bale wrap and silage sheets, small seed and feed bags, and large 1T and 500kg fertiliser sacks. The GPSS has also been accredited to incorporate Animal Health and Household Pest and Weed plastic packaging.

Agrecovery board chair Anders Crofoot says receiving the accreditation is a testament to the hard work and commitment of its team, stakeholders, and the agricultural community.

“Together, we are setting a new standard for environmental responsibility, ensuring that our actions today pave the way for a more sustainable tomorrow.”

“New Zealand dairy farmers are committed to reducing their environmental footprint, including minimising plastic waste. The GPSS offers a solution to enable our farmers to progress further along this journey,” says Burger.

Agrecovery has designed the scheme to include a phased approach to encompassing a broader range of materials over time with plans to significantly broaden the range of recyclable plastics covered by the GPSS in the next 2-7 years. This expansion is a response to the feedback from the farming community and an acknowledgment of the evolving needs of the agricultural sector.

Agrecovery chief executive Tony Wilson says that this is a landmark achievement not only for Agrecovery but for the entire New Zealand primary industry.

“Our accredited GPSS underscores our dedication to stewardship and sustainable practices, driven by the demands and cooperation of New Zealand’s farmers and growers. We’re looking forward to expanding our schemes and fostering innovation and collaboration to ensure a sustainable future for all.”

The GPSS will operate as a voluntary scheme until regulations are in place to ensure all producers of the targeted products participate.

Regulations proposed by the industry-led scheme co-design process to support the GPSS would require those selling the targeted products paying levies to enable a free nationwide collection network for farmers and growers.

More like this

Recycling 10,000 cow collars

MSD Animal Health New Zealand has partnered with Agrecovery in New Zealand’s first pilot to recycle SenseHub Dairy Collars (previously known as Allflex Collars) used by its dairy farmer clients.

Seeds of change

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

Farm plastics recyclers join forces

The two main plastic collection programmes in New Zealand’s primary sector have agreed to work together to improve the services they provide farmers and growers.

Featured

Low interest sustainability lending from Halter, banks

Dairy and beef farmers could be eligible for lower interest lending options for financing Halter on their farms, with ANZ, ASB and BNZ now offering a pathway to sustainability loans for New Zealand’s largest virtual fencing provider.

National

Optimism in the air

Ag First chief executive James Allen says dairy farmer optimism is on the rise.

Ready to walk the talk

DairyNZ's Kirsty Verhoek ‘walks the talk’, balancing her interests in animal welfare, agricultural science and innovative dairy farming.

Dairy earnings bounce back

"We at Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and you at Dairy News said over six months ago that the dairy…

Machinery & Products

Powering farm operations

Waikato-based Silvester Electrical has been supporting New Zealand’s dairy industry for nearly 50 years.

DTS pioneering refrigerant swap

DTS, New Zealand's leading manufacturer of stainless steel vats and refrigeration technologies, is spearheading a groundbreaking initiative to phase out…

Discover the plastic edge

For over 20 years, Advantage Plastics has been manufacturing and supplying New Zealand-wide a large range of on-farm storage &…

Solution for every farm

For over 40 years, Williams Engineering has been trusted by farmers across New Zealand and beyond to deliver simple, reliable,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Bovaer's fate

OPINION: The fate of methane inhibitor Bovaer in NZ farming is still up in the air.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter