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Environment Minister Nicola Grigg
The Government is introducing a new nationwide rural recycling scheme that will significantly increase the recovery of farm plastics from March next year, Minister for the Environment Nicola Grigg announced today.
The new, regulated Rural Recycling Scheme will expand recycling and recovery of agrichemical containers, bale wrap and silage sheet, introducing a nationwide take-back system that will replace the current voluntary recycling schemes.
Grigg says the scheme has been designed by industry, with the support of farmers, and will be managed by the not-for-profit Agrecovery Foundation.
"We've listened to feedback from farmers and growers who wanted a simple take-back system that is easy to use and can take all the usual plastic farm products into one recycling [stream]," Grigg says.
The existing voluntary schemes, operated by Agrecovery and Plasback, currently collect under half of the in-scope plastics used by farmers and growers.
According to Grigg, the new national system will significantly increase recycling and recovery rates, while reducing the quantity of farm plastics ending up in landfill, buried, or burnt on-farm.
Under the new system, producers will contribute a small fee for products sold, funding a free, nationwide network of take-back sites and collection services for farmers and growers.
The existing regional network of around 240 take-back sites will be expanded to handle the increased volume of rural plastics moving into recycling markets.
"Recycling services will operate in tandem with collection services for agrichemicals, making it easier to safely manage unused end-of-life products," Grigg says.
Take-back services won't be limited to farmers and growers. According to Grigg, the scheme will also be available to other users of agrichemicals and farm plastics, including the forestry, manufacturing, hospitality, tourism and sport sectors, as well as local authorities and contractors.
Households will also gain access to a bespoke national service for pest and weed control product disposal.
Existing voluntary recycling schemes will continue operating as normal until the new Rural Recycling Scheme officially starts on 1 March 2027.
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