Help shape the future of farm plastics recycling - Simmonds
The Government is calling on rural New Zealanders to share their views on proposed regulations designed to improve the management of farm plastic waste.
Free recycling of plastic agricultural bags is now available to farmers and growers.
Rural recycling programme AgRecovery says it is "turning up the dial" on sustainability, with the rollout of recycling of bags made from low density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic in Marlborough and Hawke's Bay. This comes ahead of a nationwide rollout, following successful trials held in the regions last year.
Operations advisor Felicity Mitchell says the success of these trials and the enthusiasm of farmers and growers are behind the move to a permanent solution for the bags, which are used for fertiliser and fungicides.
"Our focus is now on finding other sites around the country for collecting the plastic and engaging more manufacturers to support the programme," she explains.
"LDPE is a low-quality plastic, making it more difficult to recycle, but we don't want it being burnt or buried on farms. We're passionate about finding the most sustainable solution for all the products we collect."
After 15 years of offering container and drum recycling, the not-for-profit organisation is partnering with agricultural manufacturers to clear more plastic from farms.
This initiative is part of a broader plan that AgRecovery is developing, with the government and industry, to set up product stewardship schemes for the sector.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.
A tiny organism from the arid mountains of mainland Greece is facilitating a new way of growing healthier animals on farms across New Zealand.
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