Irish farmers get plastics recycling boost

The Irish Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG), a national compliance scheme for waste farm plastics, has organised an extensive network of temporary bring collection sites throughout the county.

As the winter fodder season ends, significant quantities of waste farm plastic have built up on farms including silage bale wraps, silage pit covers, plastic packaging for fertiliser and meal ration and agricultural chemical containers.

According to recent records, some 1,300 tonnes of waste farm plastic has been collected annually by authorised waste collectors in Clare through temporary collection bring centres and on-farm collections.

The temporary bring collection sites are being authorised for use by the operators of the sites. All contractors and onward recycling facilities used by IFFPG will have necessary permits and licences in place.

Farmers in Ireland need to pay a recycling levy for every purchase of farm plastic if it is to be used for wrapping silage bales or covering silage pits from a compliant retailer.

This tax is then is used by IFFPG to help fund and operate the temporary collection bring centres and on-farm collections throughout the country.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Hayes, said: “A failure to pay the appropriate recycling levy on farm plastic purchased will result in a reduction in funding to the collection scheme and increased costs to farmers when seeking to dispose of waste farm plastic following the winter fodder season”.

Maxine Perella