Recycle grain bags, plastic baler twine, silage plastic, and bale stretch wrap under the ‘Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It!’ pilot program.
Learn how to prepare these plastics for recycling below.
- Looking to recycle other ag-related waste materials in Alberta?
- Learn more about the program details.
The second edition of The Great Twine Round-Up contest is underway for 2026. Earn a chance at winning one of four $3,000 cash prizes.
Ready to recycle? Let’s all do it right.
Because loose ag plastics are bulky, hard to handle, and inefficient to transport, we ask farmers to bag, roll, or compact each material type separately so it can be stored, moved, and recycled properly.
Follow these steps to ensure your used ag plastics will be accepted for recycling
- Roll & Remove Debris – while tightly rolling bags with a mechanical roller, shake to remove spoilage, dirt, rocks, etc.
- Secure – the rolls with baler twine to hold them together.
- Return – to a local collection site.
- Shake – to remove as much debris, snow, or ice as possible.
- Bag – loose twine in a collection bag & secure closed.
- Return – to a local collection site – collection bags available free of charge at each site.
- Shake – to remove spoiled silage, mud, ice, etc.
- Fold – into approximate 4’ squares.
- Store – 4’ square pieces on a pallet and use a weight to hold them in place.
- Compact – lay the pieces flat in a compactor and compress to densify. Secure with twine.
- Return – compacted plastic or folded pieces to a local collection site.
- Cut & Shake – the bale wrap into manageable pieces and to remove hay, mud, ice, etc.
- Fold – into approximate 4’ squares.
- Store – pieces flat on a pallet and use a weight to hold them in place.
- Compact – lay the pieces flat in a compactor and compress to densify. Secure with twine.
- Return – compacted plastic or folded pieces to a local collection site.
What‘s In & What’s Out
Each plastic type—grain bags, twine, silage plastic, and bale wrap—must be collected and stored separately, as mixing or co-mingling materials makes them unrecyclable; if you’re unsure, contact info@cleanfarms.ca.
Not all collection sites collect all materials, please check with your local collection site to see which they accept.
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FAQs
What happens to the plastics I bring to a collection site?
They are transported to separate recycling facilities where they are converted into plastic pellets. The pellets are then used to manufacture new plastic products.
This program is a pilot which means that we are testing out recycling markets and program logistics. Collection sites may collect grain bags only, twine only or both based on the types of farms in the region and/or resources/equipment available.
How do I recycle my other agricultural plastics?
Depending on the type of ag plastic, it may be collected at your municipal waste transfer site, landfill, or ag-retailer to then ship to recycling markets. For further information, please visit our Alberta Programs & Events page and click on the image of the material you wish to recycle. If the material you are trying to recycle is not listed, please contact our general information line at info@cleanfarms.ca for recycling options in your area.
There’s no collection site near me. What do I do?
Call Cleanfarms’ Alberta Program Advisor (Davin Johnson) at 403.942.6012 to discuss options.
Why is bale netting/net wrap not accepted?
Recycling markets are not currently available for net wrap.
If you co-mingle/mix net wrap and twine in the same collection bag, the whole bag will need to be disposed of, as it is too costly to separate them for recycling. Please ensure that you only place clean twine in a collection bag for recycling.
Can I use my seed or bulk tote bags as a collection bag?
Please call your collection site first. Some sites are accepting twine collected this way.
I don’t have a compactor or grain bag roller. How do I recycle my plastics?
Call Cleanfarms’ Alberta Program Advisor (Davin Johnson) at 403.942.6012 to discuss options.
I have a large volume of plastic. Will you pickup from my farm?
Call Cleanfarms’ Alberta Program Advisor (Davin Johnson) at 403.942.6012 to discuss options.
Grain Bag Rolling
Twine Bagging
Compactor
Program Details
Cleanfarms, in partnership with the Agricultural Plastic Recycling Group, is operating a pilot program to collect agricultural grain bags, twine, silage plastic (silo bags, tarps, bunker covers), and bale wrap (stretch wrap for silage and haylage bales) for recycling.
Originally focused on collecting grain bags and baler twine, the program has now been expanded to include silage plastic and bale wrap.
This expansion responds to producer demand and supports the need for comprehensive recycling solutions for the full range of plastics used in Alberta’s crop and livestock sectors. Cleanfarms is continuing to grow the network of collection partners across the province to ensure convenient access for farmers and to test effective, scalable approaches for recovering these additional materials.
Cleanfarms is presently working with over 50 collection partners operating over 170 collection sites across the province.
Waste Characterization Study
A waste characterization study focused on non-durable, inorganic waste generation on Alberta farms was conducted in 2019.
2019 Alberta Farm Survey
This report presents the results of a quantitative study of more than 400 Alberta crop and livestock producers conducted in July and August 2019. The goals of the 2019 study were to develop baseline measures of attitudes towards and practices for disposing of certain agricultural plastic waste materials, to develop initial measures related to the pilot program and to obtain producer feedback on key topics as input into program design and implementation.
2023 Alberta Farm Survey
This report presents the results of a follow-up online tracking survey of 400 Alberta crop and livestock producers conducted in July and August 2023. This study was completed to compare against the 2019 study benchmarks and address key questions regarding awareness, use, and satisfaction with the ‘Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle it! Program’.
