Ag Plastic Recycling Pilots in British Columbia
Author: Emily Branch, Thompson Environmental Services Coordinator, Thompson Nicola Regional District
In March, Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) staff hit the road to connect with ranches participating in the TNRD – Cleanfarms Agricultural Plastics Recycling Pilot Program in the region. Running from June 2025 through December 2028, this pilot is supported by a four‑year TNRD funding commitment, which serves to advance commitments outlined in the TNRD’s Regional Solid Waste Management Plan— the region’s 10‑year, public‑driven guiding document— to pursue ongoing agricultural plastics recycling solutions and evaluate policy options for commercial recycling materials. Since launching last year, the program has established a framework for participating ranches to recycle bale wrap, silage bags, and covers through the loaning of agricultural plastic compactors and direct collection of baled materials throughout the pilot period.
To date, the TNRD pilot has issued seven compactors in a mix of styles to three participating ranches, including Douglas Lake Cattle Company – the largest working ranch in Canada and headquartered northeast of Merritt; Nicola Ranch located east of Merritt; and Frolek Cattle Company, which operates across multiple locations in the surrounding areas of Kamloops. Through the pilot, ranches are provided with either a hydraulic compactor or a manual concrete press to bale their used ag plastics, making them easier to store on farm and transport once a Cleanfarms partner comes to pick them up to be recycled. As pilot interest continues to grow, the TNRD plans to welcome a total of five more ranches into the pilot in 2026 and 2027.
Emily Branch and a bale of compacted agricultural plastic from British Columbia farms.
The March site visits were the first in‑person check‑ins with participants since compactors were issued. These visits gave TNRD staff an opportunity to observe how the equipment was being integrated into daily ranch operations, assess the quality and quantity of compacted bales, and gather feedback ahead of constructing additional compactors later in the year. And the results were encouraging—after just four months, the three ranches had already pulled together 29 bales of agricultural plastics, roughly 14.5 tonnes of material diverted from landfill.
Participants were able to share helpful feedback on compactor design and operational efficiencies that will be valuable as more ranches come onboard. While ranchers noted that encouraging behaviour changes can initially meet some resistance, they reported that compacting agricultural plastics requires only a few additional minutes compared to previous disposal practices such as landfilling or burning these plastics. This approach helps keep feedlots cleaner and offers clear environmental benefits, reinforcing recycling as a practical and responsible plastics management option that aligns with ranchers’ stewardship of rangeland and the broader environment. We’re keen to see how these strong partnerships and ongoing buy‑in from local ranchers continues to shape the pilot moving forward.
A bale of compacted bale wrap ready to be collected and recycled.
Sustainability is also built into the equipment itself. Five of the compactors distributed in 2025 were purchased from the Regional District of Bulkley‑Nechako following the conclusion of its pilot program. Ahead of distribution, the purchased compactors were retrofitted to work with hydraulic equipment commonly used on ranches, and their construction from recycled composite board further reflects the shared commitment of the TNRD and Cleanfarms for re-use and resource efficiency.
Looking beyond plastics collection, the pilot is also about learning. The TNRD is gathering data to better understand how agricultural plastics are managed and to share those insights with the province as it develops approaches for handling non‑residential packaging waste, including agricultural plastics in the commercial sector. As the pilot continues to gain traction, the TNRD looks forward to seeing how much more material will be collected and diverted over the next three years. These findings will be shared in support of long‑term, province‑wide solutions for managing commercial and agricultural waste.
