Cleanfarms Collecting Unwanted Agricultural Pesticides and Old Livestock/Equine Medications in P.E.I. starting this week

Farmers can bring unwanted pesticides and old livestock/equine medications to a nearby collection event to dispose of them safely and help keep P.E.I. farms clean. – Cleanfarms Photo

ETOBICOKE, Ontario, Oct. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Starting this week, Prince Edward Island farmers can safely dispose of unwanted agricultural pesticides and old, obsolete livestock and equine medications through a Cleanfarms program.

Cleanfarms is operating seven collection events at local ag retailer locations throughout the province for a two-week period, starting on October 30 and ending on November 10.

“Every time we’re here, farmers show us how important this program is to them. They save up materials and bring them to these events for drop off at no charge, recognizing that this helps keep their farms clean and ensures these materials don’t go to landfill,” says Cleanfarms’ Executive Director Barry Friesen. “For our team, it’s a great way to meet with farmers and learn about what’s on their minds while providing a service that’s valuable for them and the region as a whole.”

The crop protection industry, in partnership with the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI), covers the full cost of operating the program and disposing of the materials safely.

Since the program began, more than 4,200 tonnes of unwanted pesticides and 67.3 tonnes of obsolete farm animal (cattle, horses, goats, poultry) health medications have been collected across Canada.

This year’s P.E.I. collection sites are in:

  • Bloomfield – McCain Fertilizer – 31 Gard Rd., 902-888-7431
  • Charlottetown – Cavendish Agri Services – 19 Riverside Dr., 902-566-5597
  • New Perth – McCain Fertilizer – 4763 Baldwins Rd., 902-888-7431
  • O’Leary – Cavendish Agri Services – 41 North St., 902-859-2200
  • Summerside – Cavendish Agri Services – 848 Read Dr., 902-438-4884
  • Summerside – McCain Fertilizer – 168 Greenwood Dr., 902-888-7431
  • Travellers Rest – PEI Agromart – 26210 Rt. 2, Travellers Rest St., 902-436-1600

More details can be found on Cleanfarms.ca under “what to recycle & where”.

Materials accepted in the Cleanfarms program include:

  • Unwanted (or “obsolete”) agricultural pesticides (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label, including used miticide strips)
  • Commercial pesticides for golf courses and industrial and commercial pest control products (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label)
  • Livestock/equine medications that are used on-farm in the rearing of livestock, poultry or horses in an agricultural context (identified with a DIN number, serial number, notification number or Pest Control Product number on the label)

The program does NOT accept:

  • Fertilizer (including Nitric acid), rinsate diluted solution, large quantities of unopened product
  • Full and unopened jugs of adjuvant or surfactant
  • Treated seed
  • Needles or sharps, medicated feed, aerosol containers, premises disinfectants and sanitizers (including Formaldehyde), veterinary clinic waste and medications, ear tags, and aerosols
  • Domestic pesticides, fertilizers and animal health products
  • Any other household hazardous waste

Cleanfarms rotates the program to regions across Canada every three years. Collection events will return to Prince Edward Island in 2026.

About Cleanfarms

Cleanfarms is an agricultural industry stewardship organization that contributes to a healthier environment and a sustainable future by recovering and recycling agricultural and related industry plastics, packaging and products. It is funded by its members in the crop protection, seed, fertilizer, animal health medication and ag plastics industries. It has staff located in Lethbridge, Alberta; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Etobicoke, Ontario; and St-Bruno, Quebec.

In addition to this program, Cleanfarms collects empty plastic agricultural pesticide and fertilizer containers, grain bags and twine for recycling. Cleanfarms also collects seed bags east of British Columbia and fertilizer bags (Quebec and PEI only) for responsible disposal.

Questions about which products are accepted in this collection program can be directed to 877-622-4460 or email Cleanfarms at info@cleanfarms.ca.

Contact:
Barbara McConnell
bmcconnell@cleanfarms.ca
416-452-2373

Cleanfarms is Collecting Unwanted Agricultural Pesticides and Old Livestock/Equine Medications in South Saskatchewan this Fall

Farmers can bring unwanted pesticides and old livestock/equine medications to a nearby Cleanfarms collection event to dispose of them safely helping to keep Saskatchewan farms clean. – Cleanfarms photo

(Moose Jaw, SK) – October 12, 2023 – This fall, farmers in Saskatchewan south of Davidson can safely dispose of unwanted agricultural pesticides and old, obsolete livestock and equine medications through a Cleanfarms program.

There will be 20 collection events taking place at various local ag retailers in the region.

“Every time we’re here, farmers show us how important this program is to them. They save up materials and bring them to these events for drop off at no charge, recognizing that this helps keep their farms clean and ensures these materials don’t go to landfill,” says Cleanfarms’ Executive Director Barry Friesen. “For our team, it’s a great way to meet with farmers and learn about what’s on their minds while providing a service that’s valuable for them and the region as a whole.”

The crop protection industry, in partnership with the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI), covers the full cost of operating the program and disposing of the materials safely.

Since the program began, more than 4,200 tonnes of unwanted pesticides and 67.3 tonnes of obsolete farm animal (cattle, horses, goats, poultry) health medications have been collected across Canada.

This year’s Saskatchewan collection sites are in:

  • Avonlea – October 27 – Genesis Co-op, 300 McRorie Ave., 306-868-2133
  • Balcarres – October 25 – Synergy AG, 200 Hwy. 10, 306-331-5706
  • Balgonie – October 24 – Nutrien Ag Solutions, 228 Old Hwy., 306-771-2032
  • Central Butte – October 24 – Hawks Agro, South Hwy. SK-19, 306-796-4787
  • Coronach – October 24 – Richardson Pioneer, 130 Railway Ave., 306-267-2100
  • Davidson – October 23 – Richardson Pioneer, Hwy. 11 S., 306-567-4778
  • Estevan – October 25 – Richardson Pioneer, Intersection of Bienfait Municipal Rd. and Sister Roddy Rd., Hwy. 39 W., 306-634-2342
  • Eston – October 23 – Emerge Ag Solutions, 708 Hwy. 44 W., 306-962-4132
  • Fillmore– October 27 – Top Notch Farm Supple Inc., Hwy. 33, 306-722-3200
  • Grenfell – October 26 – Richardson Pioneer, 1110 Hwy. 47 N., 306-679-3377
  • Gull Lake – October 26 – South West Terminal, Hwy. 1, 7 miles east of Gull Lake, 306-672-4112
  • Leader – October 24 – Simplot, Hwy. 21 S., 306-628-3886
  • Limerick – October 23 – Limerick Co-op, 1100 Railway Ave., 306-263-2033
  • Maple Creek – October 25 – Richardson Pioneer, 305 1st N., 306-662-2420
  • Moose Jaw – October 26 – Parrish & Heimbecker, 1-501 High St. W., 306-693-2977
  • Moosomin – October 27 – Parrish & Heimbecker, 1 mile west of Hwy. 1, 639-877-9010
  • Raymore – October 23 – Cargill, CNR Right of Way Elevator Rd., 306-746-2055
  • Shaunavon – October 27 – Southwest Terminal Ltd., 815 Hwy. 37, 306-297-4045
  • Swift Current – October 25 – Pioneer Co-op Agronomy Center, 2284 South Service Rd. W., 306-778-8705
  • Weyburn – October 26 – Parrish & Heimbecker, 1 mile east of Hwy. 39 S., 306-842-7436

Events take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Other details can be found on Cleanfarms.ca under “what to recycle & where”.

Materials accepted in the Cleanfarms program include:

  • Unwanted (or “obsolete”) agricultural pesticides (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label. A special note to Saskatchewan beekeepers – this also includes used miticide strips)
  • Commercial pesticides for golf courses and industrial and commercial pest control products (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label)
  • Livestock/equine medications that are used on-farm in the rearing of livestock, poultry or horses in an agricultural context (identified with a DIN number, serial number, notification number or Pest Control Product number on the label)

The program does NOT accept:

  • Fertilizer (including Nitric acid), rinsate diluted solution, large quantities of unopened product
  • Full and unopened jugs of adjuvant or surfactant
  • Treated seed
  • Needles or sharps, medicated feed, aerosol containers, premises disinfectants and sanitizers (including Formaldehyde), veterinary clinic waste and medications, ear tags, and aerosols
  • Domestic pesticides, fertilizers and animal health products
  • Any other household hazardous waste

Cleanfarms rotates the program to regions across Canada every three years, so farmers are encouraged to store the products that are accepted in the program in a safe, dry place on the farm if they’re not close to an event this year. Next fall (2024), events will operate in Northern Saskatchewan and return to the southern region in 2026.

About Cleanfarms

Cleanfarms is an agricultural industry stewardship organization that contributes to a healthier environment and a sustainable future by recovering and recycling agricultural and related industry plastics, packaging and products. It is funded by its members in the crop protection, seed, fertilizer, animal health medication and ag plastics industries. It has staff located in Lethbridge, Alberta; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Etobicoke, Ontario; and St-Bruno, Quebec.

In addition to this program, Cleanfarms collects empty plastic agricultural pesticide and fertilizer containers, grain bags and twine for recycling. Cleanfarms also collects seed bags east of British Columbia and fertilizer bags (Quebec and PEI only) for responsible disposal.

Questions about which products are accepted in this collection program can be directed to 877-622-4460 or email Cleanfarms at info@cleanfarms.ca.

https://cleanfarms.ca

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Contact:
Barbara McConnell
bmcconnell@cleanfarms.ca
P. 613-471-1816
M. 416-452-2373

Quebec accelerates the recovery of agricultural plastics

Agricultural plastics used to store silage are commonly used on farms. They are among the broad range of products that will be collected and recycled or used as waste for energy. Farmers may see ecofees applied to this type of product starting October 1st.

SAINT-BRUNO, Quebec, Oct. 02, 2023 — Quebec farmers now benefit from increased opportunities to recycle agricultural plastics at the end of their useful life.

A regulation similar to the one covering product lines such as electronics, paint and household appliances has been extended to the agricultural sector. The objective is to make more accessible and reliable the recycling or recovery of plastics and packaging used by farmers. All agricultural sectors are covered by this regulation.

The regulation specifically requires that primary suppliers (manufacturers/distributors) of products fund the development and implementation of a comprehensive system for the collection, recovery and recycling of agricultural plastics in Quebec. From October 1, an ecofee is applied to certain agricultural products such as silage film, tarpaulins, food bags, and other products used in agricultural production.

AgriRÉCUP is the organization recognized to manage the recovery and recycling program throughout Quebec. Eastern Director, Christine Lajeunesse explains, “Farmers are citizens who care about the environment because it goes hand in hand with the health of farmland and the desire to pass on their business from generation to generation. They want their plastics and packaging to be recycled or recovered.”

The scale of the new programs will result in increased volumes of agricultural plastics being recovered for recycling or safe disposal. This will accelerate the progress of Quebec’s agricultural sector towards “zero waste in landfills”.

AgriRÉCUP, designated by RECYC-QUÉBEC as management organization

AgriRÉCUP, an organization that operates as a not for profit, has been a major player in the recovery and recycling of agricultural products in Quebec and Canada for several years. This organization has been selected by agricultural suppliers to manage this program. On July 11, RECYC-QUÉBEC approved AgriRÉCUP’s recovery and recycling program plan and designated it the recognized management organization (RMO) for the majority of plastic and packaging categories used in agriculture.

In collaboration with AgriRÉCUP, companies that supply agricultural products, associations and farmers have worked to develop a collection network.

Lajeunesse adds, “Farmers and the businesses that support them are proud to produce healthy food for us and our families. They also want to contribute to healthy and sustainable agriculture. It is great to see an entire sector and its sectors working together on a shared commitment to environmental responsibility.”

As it develops, the new program will result in investments in recycling technology and systems, which will fuel a stronger circular economy in Quebec.

Programs will be available for the following sub-categories of agricultural products:

  • Plastics used for the preservation or wrapping of silage or hay (e.g., films, nets, twine, tubes and their ends, bags and webs);
  • Bags designed and intended for agricultural use (e.g., grain bags and silo bags, bags of chips and bags of supplements, minerals, fertilizers, seeds and feed);
  • Containers, cans, barrels and tanks designed and intended for agricultural use (e.g., seed, fertilizer, pesticide, soil amendment and sanitary containers);
  • Maple syrup tubing;
  • Class 1 to 3A pesticides and pesticide-coated seed.

About AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms

AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms is an agricultural industry stewardship organization that contributes to a healthier environment and a sustainable future by recovering and recycling agricultural and related industry plastics, packaging and products through a network of over 1,500 collection sites across the country. It is funded by its members in the crop protection, seed, fertilizer, animal health medication,and ag plastics industries. The organization is known in Quebec as “AgriRÉCUP” and elsewhere as “Cleanfarms”, and has staff located in St-Bruno, Quebec; Etobicoke, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; and Lethbridge, Alberta. 

Contact:

Barbara McConnell | 416-452-2373 | bmcconnell@cleanfarms.ca

Cleanfarms is Collecting Unwanted Agricultural Pesticides and Old Livestock/Equine Medications in two BC Regions this Fall

Farmers can bring unwanted pesticides and old livestock/equine medications to a nearby collection event to dispose of them safely and keep B.C. farms clean.

(Lethbridge, AB) – September 21, 2023 – This fall, farmers in British Columbia on Vancouver Island and in the Fraser Valley can safely dispose of unwanted agricultural pesticides and old, obsolete livestock and equine medications through a Cleanfarms program.

Cleanfarms is operating the collection events at three municipal depots on Vancouver Island and four ag retailer locations in the Fraser Valley.

On Vancouver Island, events take place between Monday, October 2 and Wednesday, October 4.

In the Fraser Valley, event dates run between Tuesday, October 10 and Friday, October 13.

“Every time we’re here, farmers show us how important this program is to them. They save up materials and bring them to these events for drop off at no charge, recognizing that this helps keep their farms clean and ensures these materials don’t go to landfill,” says Cleanfarms’ Executive Director Barry Friesen. “For our team, it’s a great way to meet with farmers and learn about what’s on their minds while providing a service that’s valuable for them and the region as a whole.”

The crop protection industry, in partnership with the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI), covers the full cost of operating the program and disposing of the materials safely.

Since the program began, more than 4,200 tonnes of unwanted pesticides and 67.3 tonnes of obsolete farm animal (cattle, horses, goats, poultry) health medications have been collected across Canada.

This year’s collection sites are in:

Vancouver Island

  • Cumberland – October 2 – Comox Valley Waste Management Centre, 250-336-8083
  • Duncan – October 3 – Bings Creek Recycling Centre, 250-746-2540
  • Victoria – October 4 – Hartland Landfill, 250-360-3410

Fraser Valley

  • Delta – October 10 – Evergro, Division of Nutrien Solutions, 604-940-0290
  • Langley – October 11 – Professional Ag Distribution Inc., 604-768-5602
  • Abbotsford – October 12 – Terralink, 604-864-9044
  • Abbotsford – October 13 – Evergro, Division of Nutrien Solutions, 604-850-9500

Events take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Other details can be found on Cleanfarms.ca under “what to recycle & where”.

Materials accepted in the Cleanfarms program include:

  • Unwanted (or “obsolete”) agricultural pesticides (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label, including used miticide strips)
  • Commercial pesticides for golf courses and industrial and commercial pest control products (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label)
  • Livestock/equine medications that are used on-farm in the rearing of livestock, poultry or horses in an agricultural context (identified with a DIN number, serial number, notification number or Pest Control Product number on the label)

The program does NOT accept:

  • Fertilizer (including Nitric acid), rinsate diluted solution, large quantities of unopened product
  • Full and unopened jugs of adjuvant or surfactant
  • Treated seed
  • Needles or sharps, medicated feed, aerosol containers, premises disinfectants and sanitizers (including Formaldehyde), veterinary clinic waste and medications, ear tags, and aerosols
  • Domestic pesticides, fertilizers and animal health products
  • Any other household hazardous waste

Cleanfarms rotates the program to regions across Canada every three years. Next fall (2024), events will return to the Okanagan, Interior and Kootenay regions and then come back to Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley in 2026.

About Cleanfarms

Cleanfarms is an agricultural industry stewardship organization that contributes to a healthier environment and a sustainable future by recovering and recycling agricultural and related industry plastics, packaging and products. It is funded by its members in the crop protection, seed, fertilizer, animal health medication and ag plastics industries. It has staff located in Lethbridge, Alberta; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Etobicoke, Ontario; and St-Bruno, Quebec.

In addition to this program, Cleanfarms collects empty plastic agricultural pesticide and fertilizer containers, grain bags and twine for recycling. Cleanfarms also collects seed bags east of British Columbia and fertilizer bags (Quebec and PEI only) for responsible disposal.

Questions about which products are accepted in this collection program can be directed to 877-622-4460 or email Cleanfarms at info@cleanfarms.ca.

https://cleanfarms.ca

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Contact:
Barbara McConnell
media@cleanfarms.ca
P. 613-471-1816
M. 416-452-2373

Cleanfarms Collecting Unwanted, Obsolete Agricultural Pesticides and Old Farm Animal Medications in Four Canadian Provinces this Fall

Receiving unwanted pesticides and old livestock/equine medications at a Cleanfarms collection event.

(Etobicoke, Ontario)–September 5, 2023 – Each fall, Cleanfarms teams spread out across the country, bringing a valued opportunity to local farmers to safely and conveniently dispose of unwanted and obsolete agricultural pesticides and old livestock, equine and poultry medications.

Cleanfarms is the national stewardship organization that develops and operates programs to help farmers/producers manage on-farm agricultural waste materials. This year, it will be returning to four regions of Canada to hold events to collect these materials.

This year’s program features 72 collection events – some of which are one day blitz style collections and others that are multi-day events. They will take place in:

  • Quebec: September 18 to October 6 with a mix of blitz and multi-day events
  • British Columbia: Vancouver Island, October 2 to 4 and Fraser Valley, October 10 to 13
  • Saskatchewan (Southern): October 23 to 27
  • Prince Edward Island: October 30 to November 10 (all multi-day events)

This is an important opportunity to collect items that are no longer needed and bring them for safe disposal. Farmers are encouraged to bring:

  • old or unwanted agricultural pesticides (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label; includes used miticide strips)
  • commercial pesticides for golf courses and industrial and commercial pest control products (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label)
  • livestock/equine medications that are used on-farm for livestock, poultry or horses (identified with a DIN number, serial number, notification number or Pest Control Product number on the label).

The program does NOT accept:

  • fertilizer, diluted rinsate solution, large quantities of unopened product, and treated seed (except in Quebec)
  • full and unopened jugs of adjuvant or surfactant
  • aerosol containers, premises disinfectants and sanitizers
  • needles or sharps, medicated feed, waste and medications from veterinary clinics, ear tags
  • domestic pesticides and any other household hazardous waste.

The program offers an essential solution to a big issue that farmers are faced with year after year; keeping leftover chemicals and crop inputs out of the environment after they are no longer needed on the farm.

“Knowing that there is a safe way of managing hazardous on-farm waste materials, farmers appreciate this program and wait for it to return to their region every three years. Not only that, but we’re always glad to meet up with new farmers every time we’re in each region,” says Cleanfarms’ Executive Director Barry Friesen. “We’ve been told that this program provides peace of mind for farmers, understanding that the materials they bring will be disposed of according to the highest health and safety standards.”

Cleanfarms has been managing the program to collect old, unwanted pesticides since 2010, and expanded it in partnership with The Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) to include obsolete farm animal medications in 2014.

“CAHI and our member companies are delighted to once again support upcoming Cleanfarms collections this fall. Recognizing the connection between animal health, human health, and our environment, we take immense pride in our longstanding partnership with Cleanfarms, which showcases our members’ unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainable initiatives,” stated Dr. Catherine Filejski, President, and CEO of CAHI.

The crop protection industry members of Cleanfarms, in partnership with CAHI, cover the full cost of operating the program and disposing of the materials responsibly so that farmers pay nothing when they drop off accepted items. All materials are managed safely through high temperature incineration.

The previous round of collections in these regions was in 2020 and yielded a total of 298,127 kgs of unwanted pesticides and 3,389 kgs of obsolete animal medications.

Collection events are scheduled at local agricultural retailers’ locations for ease of access. Farmers can find their most convenient events at the Cleanfarms’ website under ‘What to recycle & Where’, then clicking on ‘Unwanted pesticides & old livestock/equine medications’.

About Cleanfarms

2023 collections of unwanted agricultural pesticides and old, obsolete farm animal health medications take place in Quebec, British Columbia, South Saskatchewan and PEI. Farmers are encouraged to bring these materials to special collection events for safe disposal, at no charge. For information on collection locations, please see: https://cleanfarms.ca/materials/unwanted-pesticides-animal-meds/

Cleanfarms also collects empty plastic agricultural pesticide and fertilizer containers, grain bags and twine for recycling. Cleanfarms also collects seed bags and fertilizer bags (Quebec and PEI only) for responsible disposal. Cleanfarms staff members are located in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec Questions about which products are accepted in this collection program can be directed to 877-622-4460 or info@cleanfarms.ca.

https://cleanfarms.ca

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Contact:
Barbara McConnell   |   416-452-2373  |   bmcconnell@cleanfarms.ca

AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms confirmed as recognized management organization (RMO) for the recovery and valorization of agricultural plastics in Quebec

Empty feed bags are among the new materials that farmers will be able to return through the Cleanfarms programs resulting from the new regulation.

Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec (July, 12 2023) –AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms is proud to be recognized by RECYC QUÉBEC as a management organization (RMO) for the recovery and recycling of plastics and packaging used in agriculture, as well as obsolete or unwanted pesticides and seeds. This recognition allows businesses that market such products in Quebec to fulfill their obligations under the new Regulation on the Recovery and Valorization of Products by Enterprises (RRVPE) of the Government of Quebec by joining AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms. It also confirms AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms’ expertise and commitment to the recovery and valorization of agricultural products, as well as its evolving position in the Quebec agricultural landscape over the last 13 years.

This designation applies to four subcategories of agricultural products targeted by the RRVPE, namely subcategories 1 (silage plastics), 2 (agricultural bags), 3 (pesticide and fertilizer containers) and 7 (pesticides and treated seeds). The obligation for businesses to ensure the recovery and valorization of products belonging to these categories came into effect on June 30th.

With this designation, working in collaboration with public and private stakeholders, the AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms team is poised to expand existing programs with long term opportunities to apply circular economy solutions for these agricultural packaging products and plastics.

“On behalf of our current and future members, AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms thanks RECYC-QUÉBEC for its trust and commits wholeheartedly to making every effort to contribute to the achievement of recovery and valorization objectives for products used in agriculture,” said Barry Friesen, Executive Director of AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms. “By reaching this new milestone in the implementation of its extended producer responsibility plan, Quebec confirms its leadership in the circular economy and waste reduction in the agricultural sector. Earning this recognition deepens our drive to make recycling opportunities accessible to farmers – we feel immense pride to be in this position.”

Christine Lajeunesse, Director of AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms for Eastern Canada, concludes, “Our designation as a recognized management organization reflects the contribution of all our partners, especially Quebec’s agricultural producers who, like us, are deeply committed to the health of their lands and the environment in general. ”

About AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms

AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms is an agricultural industry stewardship organization that contributes to a healthier environment and a sustainable future by recovering and recycling agricultural and related industry plastics, packaging and products through a network of over 1,500 collection sites. It is funded by its members in the crop protection, seed, fertilizer, animal health medication, ag plastics industries. The organization is known in Quebec as “AgriRÉCUP” and elsewhere as “Cleanfarms”, and has staff located in St-Bruno, Quebec; Etobicoke, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; and Lethbridge, Alberta.

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Cleanfarms.ca

Contact:
Margot Beverley  |  705-796-8829  |  beverleym@agrirecup.ca

Cleanfarms certified as a Great Place to Work®

A focus on continuous staff engagement and development makes Cleanfarms a great place to work. Photographed is Cleanfarms staff at a recent team development event in Niagara, Ontario.

Etobicoke, ON (June 29, 2023) – For the first time ever, Cleanfarms put itself to the “Great Place to Work®” test and the verdict is in. Exceeding each of its key criteria, Cleanfarms is now certified as a Great Place to Work®, illustrating the synergy between staff members’ passions for keeping Canadian farms clean and working together to bring innovative solutions to life.

With a team spanning the country, Cleanfarms leverages a breadth of expertise and experience to expand opportunities to achieve zero waste from agriculture, from coast to coast. Underpinned by a culture of support, forward-thinking, and continuous improvement, this group shares a passion for promoting sustainability in agriculture and collaborating to bring innovative and ecological waste management solutions to farmers.

A drive to understand and improve the experience and output of the Cleanfarms team inspired the organization’s participation in the Great Place to Work® certification. Joining the ranks of hundreds of inspiring organizations globally, Cleanfarms has earned recognition from Great Place to Work® for its unwavering commitment to its culture and staff’s well-being.

“Going through the certification process was a unique opportunity to reflect on the culture we’ve worked hard to foster and to hear directly from our staff about their experiences,” says Barry Friesen, Executive Director of Cleanfarms. The certification process entailed an anonymous staff survey to benchmark satisfaction in key areas such as management, communication practices and more.

Cleanfarms analyzed the survey results, not just to measure achievements but also to identify opportunities to strengthen the organization to meet the demands of the young and dynamic field of endeavour. The vast majority of the team agreed that Cleanfarms is a great workplace, highlighting cohesive and collaborative direction offered by its management team, community contribution and access to training as just some of the contributing factors. And demonstrating a strong commitment to continuous improvement, they offered valued suggestions for how to continue to grow in a positive way that will be addressed over the months to come.

Friesen continues, “Receiving this certification represents our core values of putting people first and doing what’s right. We accept it with pride and recognize it as a celebration of our culture and community. We understand that when our team is well taken care of, they are better equipped to extend that care to others through the work we do.”

Being recognized as a Great Place to Work® is an important step for Cleanfarms. The certification sets the standard for the organization’s ongoing commitment to helping its team and culture thrive year after year.

 

About Cleanfarms

Cleanfarms is an agricultural industry stewardship organization that contributes to a healthier environment and a sustainable future by recovering and recycling agricultural and related industry plastics, packaging and products. It is funded by its members in the crop protection, seed, fertilizer, animal health medication, ag plastics industries. It has staff located in Lethbridge, Alberta; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Etobicoke, Ontario; and St-Bruno, Quebec.

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Cleanfarms.ca

Contact:

Barbara McConnell   |   416-452-2373  |   bmcconnell@cleanfarms.ca

2022 a Year of New Opportunities for Farmers to Recycle More Agricultural Plastics

Cleanfarms is operating pilot projects throughout Canada to assess compactor mechanisms that help farmers manage loose agricultural plastic sheets typically used for agricultural bale wrap, bunker covers and silage tarps. Farmers can compress the plastic film on the farm so that it is easier to store and transport to recycling collection sites. Once collected, the recovered plastic will be repurposed in a circular economy. – Cleanfarms photo

ETOBICOKE, ON (May 4, 2023) – Cleanfarms has posted its 2022 annual report, showcasing the expansion of on-the-ground programs that Canadian farmers can use to manage waste agricultural plastic products and packaging for recycling or safe disposal when they are no longer needed.

In the report, Cleanfarms describes how opportunities to divert agricultural waste materials from landfill have expanded beyond the long-standing small and large pesticide and fertilizer containers, adding to the options available to operate farms sustainably.

2022, in particular, saw a three-year project  to collect seed, pesticide and inoculant (SPI) bags across the Prairies transition from a pilot to a permanent program. Commonly used to deliver agricultural crop inputs, SPI bags have been collected in the Maritimes, Ontario and Quebec for more than a decade, but it was not an option available to farmers in the west. Now empty SPI bags can be taken to Cleanfarms’ collection sites from Prince Edward Island west to Alberta. In 2022, about 553,800 kg of SPI bags, including fertilizer bags in Quebec, were recovered.

“Adding SPI bags to the list of items farmers can manage for recycling or safe disposal across the country, instead of landfilling, burning or burying them, is a major step forward in our goal to have zero plastic agricultural waste disposed of in landfill,” said Cleanfarms Executive Director Barry Friesen.

“Plastic products like grain bags, baler twine, jugs and 1000L totes are important tools in the agricultural industry. Farmers, like other Canadians, want ways to manage these materials as part of a sustainable circular economy. At Cleanfarms, our job is to develop and launch programs that are cost efficient and give growers options to see these materials repurposed as new products.”

Another leading-edge recycling program included in the annual report is the pilot project to recover bale wrap and silage bags, made from a plastic commonly used to preserve hay for livestock feed. Through partnerships such as with Dairy Farmers of Canada, Cleanfarms initiated pilot projects across the country to assess the effectiveness of using a compactor mechanism to compress loose bale wrap and silage bags, bunker covers and silage tarps into bales that are more easily stored and transported for recycling.

Quebec has one of the most comprehensive pilot programs in Canada, collecting a variety of agricultural plastics and non-organic packaging for recycling and safe disposal. In its fourth year in 2022, it enabled farmers to manage bale wrap, silage bags, bunker covers, baler twine, netting and maple tubing for recycling.

“Pilot projects are the foundation of Cleanfarms’ program development to recover these materials. Through pilots we figure out how growers will use the programs, how to collect and transport materials, and how to ensure recyclables go to viable end markets. Pilots are the tool we use to determine what works and what doesn’t, and how to tweak systems until they are as efficient as possible. Then, wherever possible, we transition them to permanent programs,” Friesen explained.

He noted that connections with partners and with growers themselves are the direct result of having a group of on-the-ground knowledgeable, experienced staff who have backgrounds in Canadian agriculture.

“Our staff in provinces across the country ensure that these programs reflect the variations in agriculture from coast to coast, and that’s the secret sauce in laying the groundwork for effective recycling and safe management of used agricultural plastics and other non-organic packaging and products,” Friesen said.

In the 2022 annual report, Cleanfarms highlighted the collection of agricultural materials since the inception of the programs for each (rounded):

  • Plastic pesticide and fertilizer containers 23L and smaller – 149 million units
  • Non-refillable bulk pesticide and fertilizer drums and totes – 392,000 units
  • Seed and pesticide bags – 3,000 tonnes
  • Unwanted old pesticides – 4,200 tonnes
  • Old, obsolete livestock/equine medications – 67.3 tonnes
  • Grain bags, agricultural film and baler twine plastic – 12,700 tonnes
  • Maple Sap Tubing (in Quebec only) – 342 tonnes

Cleanfarms collects ag waste materials through valued partnerships with more than 1,500 recycling collection sites across Canada.

About Cleanfarms

Cleanfarms is an agricultural industry stewardship organization that contributes to a healthier environment and a sustainable future by recovering and recycling agricultural and related industry plastics, packaging and products. It is funded by its members in the crop protection, seed, fertilizer, animal health medication, ag plastics industries. It has staff located in Lethbridge, Alberta; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Etobicoke, Ontario; and St-Bruno, Quebec.

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Cleanfarms.ca

Contact:

Barbara McConnell   |   416-452-2373  |   bmcconnell@cleanfarms.ca

Earth Day Shines Light on Agricultural Plastics Recycling Achievements

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Earth Day on April 22 focuses on how people can adopt one initiative that when compounded by others doing the same thing, can achieve significant outcomes. This has never been more important than now, given concerns about climate change.

One such action that many Canadian farmers take is recycling agricultural plastics. Through their participation in Cleanfarms’ agricultural packaging and products recycling programs, Canadian farmers demonstrate their commitment to land stewardship and caring for the environment. This practice goes beyond just one day each year.

For example, in 2022, Canadian farmers brought more than 2M kg. of empty plastic pesticide and fertilizer containers 23L and smaller to Cleanfarms collection sites. The plastic is destined to be repurposed into new products some of which will be used on farms, such as flexible drainage pipe, fence posts, composite dimensional lumber used in industrial construction, plastic pallets, guard rails, and parking lot curb stop.

“We’re marking Earth Day and Earth Week by kicking off our 2023 plastic container recycling program,” says Barry Friesen, Executive Director of Cleanfarms.  “By May 1, 1,500 plus of our collection sites across Canada will be accepting empty, single-use pesticide and fertilizer containers and other items from farmers again, and many already are. Earth Day is also a great time to recommit to our goal of working to divert all ag plastic waste from landfill and into a circular economy.”

The average recovery rates for pesticide and fertilizer containers 23L and smaller is 77%.

Farmers Have More Options to Manage ‘End of Life’ Ag Products and Packaging

Cleanfarms is expanding the number of programs targeting agricultural plastic materials as well as other products used in Canada’s ag industry. Farmers are encouraged to check if they have ag materials that they haven’t recycled previously that can now be returned to a collection site. Beyond containers 23L and smaller, Cleanfarms programs include:

  • a Canada-wide recycling program for large non-deposit plastic totes and drums for pesticides and fertilizers
  • recycling programs for grain bags and baler twine in the Prairie provinces with a pilot also in British Columbia
  • a Canada-wide collection and disposal program for unwanted pesticides and old, obsolete livestock and equine medications, and
  • a safe disposal program for seed and pesticide bags and inoculant bags across most provinces.

Ongoing growth in collection volumes of these materials underscores farmers’ willingness to adopt new practices when environmentally preferred management options are available to them. Results of the pilot program to collect empty seed, pesticide and inoculant bags across the Prairies led to a Cleanfarms decision to transition the pilot into a permanent program at the end of last year.

In addition to these programs, Cleanfarms operates pilot projects across the country to assess how to shape new programs down the road for ag materials such as baler twine, bale wrap, silage wrap and silage tarps. The pilots are the result of collaboration from many partnered organizations, collection site staff, transporters, processors, and farmers, and are vital to achieving Cleanfarms’ long-term goal of eliminating ag waste from the environment.

Regarding Cleanfarms’ many programs and pilots, Friesen says, “Seeing stakeholders across sectors come together to do what’s right for the planet motivates our team. Most importantly, the impact of the effort invested by our partners and program participants contributes to the work that is being done to address climate change.”

 

Cleanfarms is an agricultural industry stewardship organization that contributes to a healthier environment and a sustainable future by recovering and recycling agricultural and related industry plastics, packaging and products. It is funded by its members in the crop protection, seed, fertilizer, animal health medication and grain bag industries. It has staff located in Lethbridge, Alberta; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Etobicoke, Ontario; and St-Bruno, Quebec.

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Cleanfarms.ca
Contact: Barbara McConnell   |   416-452-2373  |   bmcconnell@cleanfarms.ca