McBride agricultural plastic recycling to end in June
By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG
McBride residents will no longer be able to recycle agricultural plastics as of June 30th, when the agricultural plastics recycling pilot program ends, says the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. Residents can dispose of agricultural plastics the same way they dispose of other garbage, the Regional District told The Goat in an email.
Run by Cleanfarms, a non-profit which seeks to reduce waste in the agriculture industry, the program was meant to build a foundation that the Regional District, B.C. government and local farmers could use to create future recycling programs, said Director of Stakeholder Relations and Policy Kim Timmer.
“If you make a convenient and accessible recycling program available to farmers, they choose it over any other disposal method,” Timmer said, noting that the organization’s empty pesticide and fertilizer container recycling program has seen success.
She added that recycling agricultural products has benefits for both agricultural producers and local governments.
“By recycling that plastic, they’re keeping their yards clean, they’re extending the lifespan of their landfills,, and their keeping that plastic circulated into new materials, which reduces the need for virgin plastic,” Timmer said. “So bottom line, I think farmers are always looking for ways to improve the sustainability of their farming practices.”
In a press release, the Regional District said the program was ending because Cleanfarms was unable to secure funding to continue the program. However, Timmer says Cleanfarms pilot programs are typically short- to medium-term projects that allow the organization to iron out the details of an idea – for example, the McBride pilot program allowed them to determine the best collection mechanism for agricultural plastics and find effective communication methods to inform farmers about the program.
“I commend the [Regional District] for stepping up to the plate, for getting something started for the farmers in their communities,” she said. “The foundation’s in place should they wish to restart, and we’re always willing to work with communities to get projects up and going.”
There are currently no alternatives to the Cleanfarms program, according to Regional District Manager of Communications and Culture Hilary Erasmus. Because the Province does not currently include agricultural plastics in its recycling regulations, the Regional District will not divert agricultural plastics from its landfills.
“The Regional District is not in a position to adopt its own agricultural plastics recycling program as the management costs are not sustainable,” Erasmus said. “If the Province does add agricultural plastics to the Recycling Regulation, the Regional district would consider options to divert the materials from the landfill.”
