June 2022 – Cleanfarms

Cleanfarms’ Barry Friesen Recognized for Building Leading Ag Stewardship Programs

Cleanfarms Executive Director Barry Friesen accepts the Cam Davreux Stewardship Award from CropLife Canada’s President and CEO, Pierre Petelle. – CropLife Photo

ETOBICOKE, ON (June 30, 2022) –The agricultural plant science industry has recognized Barry Friesen, executive director of Cleanfarms, for his long-standing dedication and commitment to agricultural stewardship, helping farmers across Canada manage farm plastic materials when they are no longer needed.

The agricultural stewardship program is like the blue box for household recyclables except it is for farmers to recycle various types of plastics such as empty pesticide and fertilizer containers, bale wrap, silage tarps, grain bags and baler twine.

CropLife Canada presented the Cam Davreux Stewardship Award to Friesen at an awards ceremony that took place in Ottawa, Ontario recently.

In his presentation remarks, CropLife Canada’s President and CEO, Pierre Petelle, noted that Friesen’s work in agricultural stewardship began when he took on the role of leading Cleanfarms more than a decade ago when CropLife separated its empty pesticide container recycling and obsolete pesticide collection initiatives into a stand-alone stewardship organization.

“Barry has been relentless in his efforts to increase participation in ag recycling programs and to help Canadian agriculture become more sustainable as it works towards a zero-plastic-waste strategy. He has taken ag recycling to new heights by expanding collection to include other agricultural waste products such as grain bags, totes, twine and bale wrap,” Petelle said, in congratulating Friesen.

Friesen said being presented with this particular award was a highlight in his career.

“Cam Davreux was a pioneer in agricultural stewardship. He was instrumental in transforming the plant science’s vision to recover agricultural packaging for recycling to reality. He also laid the groundwork to recover old, obsolete pesticides for proper disposal management. His early work opened the door for Cleanfarms to expand the range of materials we collect for recycling and for proper disposal management today. Cleanfarms has developed into a world recognized ag stewardship organization that offers Canadian farmers sustainable options for managing farm-based packaging and ag products. I am exceptionally proud to receive this award created to celebrate Cam Davreux’s achievements,” Friesen said.

Friesen’s career spans decades in leading public and private sector positions that have focused on establishing and improving the recovery and diversion of packaging, paper and resource materials for recycling instead of disposal in landfill. Prior to his position as executive director of Cleanfarms, he was the Regional Vice President of Product Care Association where he helped establish Ontario’s Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste Program; Director of Waste Services for the Region of Niagara in Ontario; and the Resource Manager, Solid Waste, for Nova Scotia’s Department of Waste, where he launched the province’s solid waste-resource management strategy.

He is a professional engineer and holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia.

Cleanfarms is a non-profit 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. Through a network of more than 1,500 recycling collection sites across Canada, Cleanfarms’ recycling programs enable farmers to keep valuable resource materials out of landfill and the environment, and reinvested in the circular economy. Cleanfarms has staff located in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.

—30—

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

Cleanfarms Moving Ag Plastic Jug Recycling to Manitoba Ag Retailers Over Next 3 Years

Cleanfarms transitioning Manitoba collection sites for recycling empty pesticides and fertilizer jugs to agricultural retailers. Current use of collection sites at municipal transfer stations and landfills will be discontinued gradually over next three years. Check for jug recycling locations at Cleanfarms.ca. – Cleanfarms photo

WINNIPEG, MB – Cleanfarms, the stewardship organization that collects used agricultural plastics for recycling, announced today it is changing its recycling drop off locations in Manitoba where producers take empty 23L and smaller plastic pesticide and fertilizer containers.

The recycling collection system is gradually transitioning from sites at municipal transfer stations and landfill facilities to collecting empty ag jugs at Manitoba agricultural retail operations.

The transition to ag retailers is being phased in over three years. The first phase is starting with municipal collection sites that, even though open to receive empty containers from producers, have had little or no containers dropped off there for the past few years.

Cleanfarms Executive Director Barry Friesen said there are several reasons why the change to ag retailers makes sense.

“Transitioning to a retail-based collection for the jug program shifts responsibility to accept empty containers from Manitoba municipalities to the ag industry, which harmonizes the collection system across Canada. In all other provinces except Manitoba and Alberta, we collect empty containers at ag retailers,” Friesen said. Alberta will be transitioned on the same three-year schedule.

Friesen noted that collecting small ag pesticide and fertilizer containers at ag retailers makes recycling the empty containers more convenient for producers.

“For one thing, having ag retailers accept empty containers means we have more drop off locations with longer operating hours,” Friesen said. “For another, producers can return small and large bulk containers to a location that they already go to on a regular basis. It makes recycling easier for most growers.”

Currently, producers return empty bulk containers—23L to 1000L drums and totes—to ag retailers while they take smaller empty containers to municipal collection sites for recycling.

Friesen said another advantage of the revised drop off system is that when producers go to ag retailers to purchase crop input products, they can get a free large plastic bag that makes collecting, storing and transporting small empty containers more efficient. The bags hold about 45 empty containers each.

“Producers like the plastic bags,” Friesen says. “They make managing empty containers simple. In provinces where we’ve been using plastic bags for a while, recycling rates have increased. Bags make it easier to manage empties so producers bring back more of them for recycling. This works quite well.”

Cleanfarms is also making it easier for high-volume generators of empty jugs such as aerial applicators, landscapers and large acreage farms to recycle more containers. Operators can arrange for on-site pickup. Operators should email crawfordc@cleanfarms.ca for more information.

Friesen said he’s very grateful to Manitoba municipalities for helping to make the container recycling program a successful packaging stewardship program in Canada.

“We owe our gratitude to Manitoba municipalities for giving producers a convenient location to drop off empty containers. Now ag retailers in those areas will step into those big shoes. Our plan is to have every ag retailer that sells product in 23L containers accept the empty jugs from their customers to ensure producers have the same or better access to recycling. So, it should be convenient,” Friesen said.

The phased in approach will see 10 local areas transition in early 2022. As noted, these municipal locations have not been extensively used in recent years. In case producers do go there, signage is prominent, along with Cleanfarms website information to redirect producers to the new, nearby collection sites. Ag retailer sites will open, some even before municipal sites close, to accept empty pesticide and fertilizer containers.

The Manitoba municipal collection sites closing in early 2022 are:

Site	Municipality	Town
Bellsite	RM of Mountain	Bellsite
Bowsman	Municipality of Minitonas – Bowsman	Bowsman
Carman	RM of Dufferin	Carman
Forrest	RM of Elton	Forrest
Miami	Municipality of Thompson	Miami
Roland	RM of Roland	Roland
Stonewall	RM of Rockwood	Stonewall
Whitemouth	RM of Whitemouth	Whitemouth
Woodnorth	RM of Pipestone	Woodnorth
Onanole	RM of Harrison Park	Onanole

At the end of December 2022, a further 64 municipal sites that typically collect low volumes of containers will close. The full transition of municipal sites to ag retailers will continue through 2023 and 2024. Communications and notifications will occur prior to each round of transitions and all information will be included on the Cleanfarms website at cleanfarms.ca/mb-ab-jug-transition/. Producers should ask their ag retailers when they can start returning empty jugs to those locations.

Cleanfarms, a national non-profit industry stewardship organization, was created in 2010 to manage empty 23L and smaller containers and other ag waste materials for recycling or proper disposal. Cleanfarms has more than 1,500 locations throughout Canada that accept empty pesticide and fertilizer containers from farmers so they can be recycled. Cleanfarms operates the program on behalf of its member companies which are Canada’s leading developers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers of crop protection products and fertilizers.

Many retail recycling locations also accept empty seed, pesticide and inoculant bags for proper disposal. Complete information on the ag waste materials accepted and the location of collection sites is published on Cleanfarms.ca

Preparing Empty Pesticide and Fertilizer Containers

The ag industry, with support from CropLife International, has strict requirements for the handling, processing, recycling and end use of pesticide and fertilizer jugs to ensure that they are handled with the highest health, safety and environmental standards, including full traceability of all jugs.

Producers are required to:

Rinse containers (by way of chemical handler/ triple rinsing/ or pressure rinsing)
Remove paper booklets, and discard; take caps off and discard
Place rinsed containers in a collection bag and securely close (and not place any other materials in the collection bag other than pesticide and fertilizer jugs)

Seed Treatment Containers – Handle seed treatment containers differently by keeping caps securely ON to prevent contamination and by bagging all seed treatment containers separately from non-seed treatment containers.

##

Cleanfarms.ca

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

Cleanfarms Moving Ag Plastic Jug Recycling to Alberta Ag Retailers Over Next 3 Years

Cleanfarms is transitioning Alberta collection sites for recycling empty pesticides and fertilizer jugs to agricultural retailers. Current use of collection sites at municipal transfer stations and landfills will be discontinued gradually over next three years. Check for jug recycling locations at Cleanfarms.ca. – Cleanfarms photo

Lethbridge, AB (June 13, 2022)- Cleanfarms, the stewardship organization that collects used agricultural plastics for recycling, announced today it is changing its recycling drop off locations in Alberta where producers take empty 23L and smaller plastic pesticide and fertilizer containers.

The recycling collection system is gradually transitioning from sites at municipal transfer stations and landfill facilities to collecting empty ag jugs at Alberta agricultural retail operations.

The transition to ag retailers is being phased in over three years. The first phase is starting with municipal collection sites that, even though open to receive empty containers from producers, have had little or no containers dropped off there for the past few years.

Cleanfarms Executive Director Barry Friesen said there are several reasons why the change to ag retailers makes sense.

“Transitioning to a retail-based collection for the jug program shifts responsibility to accept empty containers from Alberta municipalities to the ag industry, which harmonizes the collection system across Canada. In all other provinces except Alberta and Manitoba, we collect empty containers at ag retailers,” Friesen said. Manitoba will be transitioned on the same three-year schedule.

Friesen noted that collecting small ag pesticide and fertilizer containers at ag retailers makes recycling the empty containers more convenient for producers.

“For one thing, having ag retailers accept empty containers means we have more drop off locations with longer operating hours,” Friesen said. “For another, producers can return small and large bulk containers to a location that they already go to on a regular basis. It makes recycling easier for most growers.”

Currently, producers return empty bulk containers—23L to 1000L drums and totes—to ag retailers while they take smaller empty containers to municipal collection sites for recycling.

Friesen said another advantage of the revised drop off system is that when producers go to ag retailers to purchase crop input products, they can get a free large plastic bag that makes collecting, storing and transporting small empty containers more efficient. The bags hold about 45 empty containers each.

“Producers like the plastic bags,” Friesen says. “They make managing empty containers simple. In provinces where we’ve been using plastic bags for a while, recycling rates have increased. Bags make it easier to manage empties so producers bring back more of them for recycling. This works quite well.”

Cleanfarms is also making it easier for high-volume generators of empty jugs such as aerial applicators, landscapers and large acreage farms to recycle more containers. Operators can arrange for on-site pickup. Operators should email crawfordc@cleanfarms.ca for more information.

Friesen said he’s very grateful to Alberta municipalities for all they have done to get the container recycling program up and running and staying with it for more than 30 years.

“Cleanfarms’ program in Alberta to collect and recycle empty pesticide and fertilizer jugs is the longest running recycling program for ag plastic containers in Canada. We owe our gratitude to Alberta municipalities for giving producers a convenient location to drop off empty containers. Now ag retailers in those areas will step into those big shoes. Our plan is to have every ag retailer that sells product in 23L containers accept the empty jugs from their customers to ensure producers have the same or better access to recycling. So, it should be convenient,” Friesen said.

The phased in approach will see 21 local areas in Alberta including one in northern BC transition in early 2022. As noted, these municipal locations have not been extensively used in recent years. In case producers do go there, signage is prominent, along with Cleanfarms website information to redirect producers to the new, nearby collection sites. Ag retailer sites will open, some even before municipal sites close, to accept empty pesticide and fertilizer containers.

The Alberta municipal collection sites closing in early 2022 are:

Site	Municipality
Airdrie Transfer Site	Airdrie
Colinton Transfer Station	Colinton
Bellis Transfer Station	Bellis
Bragg Creek Transfer Site	Bragg Creek
East Calgary Landfill	Calgary
Clover Bar Landfill / Edmonton Waste Management Centre	Edmonton
Smokey River Regional Landfill	Falher
Flatbush Waste Transfer Station	Flatbush
Fort Saskatchewan Recycling and Transfer Station	Fort Saskatchewan
Bindloss Waste Transfer Station	Bindloss
Beaver Lake Landfill	Beaver Lake/Lac La Biche
Langdon Transfer Site	Langdon
Mallaig Waste Transfer Station	Mallaig
Picture Butte Waste Transfer Station	Picture Butte
Clearwater County Regional Landfill	Rocky Mountain House
Spedden Landfill	Spedden
Blueberry Transfer Station	Blueberry Mountain
Tomahawk Transfer Station	Tomahawk
Tulliby Lake Transfer Station	Tulliby Lake
Weberville Waste Transfer Station	Weberville
Rolla Transfer Station (PRRD)	Rolla (Northern BC)

At the end of December 2022, a further 58 municipal sites that typically collect low volumes of containers will close. The full transition of municipal sites to ag retailers will continue through 2023 and 2024. Communications and notifications will occur prior to each round of transitions and all information will be included on the Cleanfarms website at cleanfarms.ca/mb-ab-jug-transition. Producers should ask their ag retailers when they can start returning empty jugs to those locations.

Cleanfarms, a national non-profit industry stewardship organization, was created in 2010 to manage empty 23L and smaller containers and other ag waste materials for recycling or proper disposal. Cleanfarms has more than 1,500 locations throughout Canada that accept empty pesticide and fertilizer containers from farmers so they can be recycled. Cleanfarms operates the program on behalf of its member companies which are Canada’s leading developers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers of crop protection products and fertilizers.

Many retail recycling locations also accept empty seed, pesticide and inoculant bags for proper disposal. Complete information on the ag waste materials accepted and the location of collection sites is published on Cleanfarms.ca.