Across British Columbia, farmers are participating in pilot projects to better manage their twine, bale wrap, silage covers, and silage and grain bags*. These pilots are funded individually through agreements with regional districts.
How it Works:
- Check your region – Each area in BC is accepting different plastics.
- Prepare your plastics – Review the preparation and collection instructions detailed for your region.
- Follow drop-off instructions – Each region has specific drop-off locations and availability schedules.
Click on the relevant regional district to learn more about which materials are included, learn how to prepare the materials, and find information on how to participate in each of the pilot projects.
- Fraser Valley Regional District
- Peace River Regional District
- Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako
- Regional District of Fraser-Fort George
Pilot programs are being tested in specific Regional Districts at this time. The information collected in these pilots will be used to inform a comprehensive plan for the province around these materials. Please sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on program developments.
For more information about this program, please contact:
Carly Fraser
Special Projects Coordinator
fraserc@cleanfarms.ca | 416-736-8492
Fraser Valley Regional District
A pilot recycling program for bale wrap, silage bags/bunker covers is available to farmers in the Fraser Valley Regional District.
On-farm compactors will be used to densify plastics before transport to end markets in this pilot. To qualify to receive a compactor, you must have an environmental farm plan, and provide some business information. Please get in touch with Carly Fraser (fraserc@cleanfarms.ca) to indicate your interest in a compactor.
What to Put In & What to Keep Out of a Compactor
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| What’s Out |
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FAQs
What happens to the bale wrap and silage plastic that is collected?
Both bale wrap and silage plastic are transported to recycling facilities, where they are shredded, washed, and then converted into plastic pellets. The pellets are then used to manufacture new plastic products such as plastic bags, plastic dimensional lumber, or plastic agricultural fence posts.
See our “What Becomes What” Guide to learn more about how agricultural plastics are reincorporated into new products.
Why use a compactor?
Generally, plastics that are collected loose take up a large amount of space, are time consuming and difficult to handle with equipment, and they weigh very little, which is inefficient for transportation to a recycling facility.
How can I get a manual compactor for my farming operation?
Contact Special Projects Coordinator Carly Fraser (fraserc@cleanfarms.ca) to discuss how your region can get involved.
How can I get involved?
Contact Special Projects Coordinator Carly Fraser (fraserc@cleanfarms.ca) to discuss how your region can get involved.
How to use a manual compactor
Watch this video to learn more about how these compactors can help compress ag plastics, reduce contamination and facilitate transportation to collection sites or recycling facilities.
How to Prepare Bale Wrap and Silage Plastic for Compacting
Silage Plastic
Follow these 3 steps to prepare your used silage plastic for recycling:
- 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. When ready to compact, lay the pieces flat in a compactor and compress them to densify.
Bale Wrap
Follow these 3 steps to prepare your used bale wrap for recycling:
- Cut – the bale wrap into manageable pieces.
- Shake – to remove hay, mud, ice, etc.
- Store – pieces flat on a pallet and use a weight to hold them in place. When ready to compact, lay the pieces flat in a compactor and compress them to densify.
Peace River Regional District
A pilot recycling program for baler twine and grain bags is available to farmers in the Peace River Regional District.
Twine
Follow these steps to ensure that your twine can be accepted and recycled:
- Pick up a collection bag from participating PRRD collection sites.
- Shake out your material, removing as much debris, dirt or ice/snow as possible.
- Place twine directly into the collection bag. Secure a full bag closed with twine or zip tie.
- Return bag full of material back to your local collection site
Grain Bags
Get ready to recycle grain bags!
Grain bags need to be machine-rolled tightly to be properly prepared for recycling markets. Preparation involves these 3 steps:
- Shake – Remove debris; grain bags need to be as clean as possible with care to remove as much organic material (spoilage, dirt, etc.) before or during rolling. Excessively dirty or loose/unrolled bags may be rejected.
- Roll – Machine-roll grain bags and secure firmly with twine. Grain bag rollers are now available in the region for a daily rental fee. Please contact the Waste Coordinator, Loryn Day, at 250-784-3235 or loryn.day@prrd.bc.ca for access.
- Return – Return your well-rolled plastic bale to a collection site.
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Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako
A pilot recycling program for baler twine, bale wrap, silage bags and bunker covers is available to farmers in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako.
Follow these steps to ensure that your used material can be accepted and recycled:
- Pick up a collection bag from participating RDBN collection sites.
- Shake or sweep out your material, removing as much debris, dirt or ice/snow as possible.
- Place each material in a separate collection bag. Secure a full bag closed with twine or a zip tie.
- Twine can be placed loose in a bag.
- Bale wrap can be rolled up and placed in a bag.
- Pieces of silage bags/covers can be placed in a bag, large pieces of silage cover can be rolled tightly and secured with twine.
- Return bags of material to your local collection site. Don’t forget to take another bag home with you!
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Regional District of Fraser-Fort George
A pilot recycling program for baler twine, bale wrap, silage bags and bunker covers is available to farmers in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.
The final collection of bagged material at the McBride Transfer Station will be over Spring 2025.
Follow these steps to ensure that your used material can be accepted and recycled:
- Pick up a collection bag from participating McBride Transfer Station.
- Shake or sweep out your material, removing as much debris, dirt or ice/snow as possible.
- Place each material in a separate collection bag. Secure a full bag closed with twine or a zip tie.
- Twine can be placed loose in a bag.
- Bale wrap can be rolled up and placed in a bag.
- Pieces of silage bags/covers can be placed in a bag, large pieces of silage cover can be rolled tightly and secured with twine.
- Return bags of material to your McBride Transfer Station. Don’t forget to take another bag home with you!
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