The government today launched an ambitious multi-million-dollar nationwide recycling scheme aimed at farmers. A $130,000 grant from the government's Waste Minimisation Fund will be aimed at encouraging farmers to recycle and reuse rather than burn or b
The government today launched an ambitious multi-million-dollar nationwide recycling scheme aimed at farmers.
A $130,000 grant from the government’s Waste Minimisation Fund will be aimed at encouraging farmers to recycle and reuse rather than burn or bury thousands of tonnes plastic waste.
Plasback is one of the first product stewardship schemes under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 that will enable the collection of bale wrap, agrichemical containers and other packaging waste from farms and recycle it into new products.
Minister for the environment Dr Nick Smith said more than 7,000 tonnes of plastic farm waste, mainly used bale wrap, is currently burnt, buried or left to litter the countryside.
“Many farms are frustrated by the lack of options for dealing with plastic farm waste and know that burning or burying waste is not a sustainable solution. Burning is particularly damaging because of the toxic chemicals it releases into the atmosphere.
“We want to work with farmers and their supply industries to develop a nationwide recycling scheme that will enable this waste to be collected, reused and recycled.”
The funding will be used to run an information campaign to farms offering more environmentally friendly options for recycling.
Dr Smith said the scheme is expected to grow rapidly, with the aim to recycle more than 2,400 tonnes of waste plastic annually by June 2011.
