Building a Zero-Plastic-Waste Strategy for Agriculture

Funding for this project ended on March 31, 2024

Please see project highlights below. For more information, contact Special Projects Coordinator, Carly Fraser.

Ag plastics are important tools that help farmers store feed for their livestock, bring crop inputs to their farm, and control moisture.

Management options are still needed for a variety of plastics used in agriculture. This project focussed on typically hard-to-recycle ag plastics such as twine, silage plastic and bale wrap. These plastics, used predominantly in livestock operations, require particular and novel methods of preparation, handling and processing to be incorporated into recycling programs.

Through information gathering, stakeholder gathering, hands on pilots and market development activities, this project developed proof-of-concept for regionally adapted recycling programs for these materials. See below for further activity details and to access data and information sharing items that were produced through this project. Review the provincial and material pages to current best practices and program availability.

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program (CASPP), a $50.3 million, five-year investment to help the agricultural sector adapt and remain competitive.

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Developing better management options for ag-plastics requires a multi-phased approach that combines practical, on-the-ground pilots, up-to-date data, broad industry-wide education and awareness and a commitment to explore new ways of working.

Cleanfarms’ Building a Zero-Plastic-Waste Strategy for Agriculture was divided into three main activities. We will update this page as these activities unfold.

Grower survey

Grower surveys tracked farmer attitudes and behaviours related to agricultural plastics over the course of the project. Research was completed in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes.

This activity was divided into two parts:

Fall 2020 – The data provides important baseline information and input into pilot project development.
Winter 2024 – This phase of the grower survey provided important measurements to determine how attitude and behaviours changed after pilot implementation.

Grower Survey Results

Consensus building

Key stakeholders, including producer groups, municipal associations, suppliers and recyclers were brought together to build a path forward to manage agricultural plastics. Sessions were held with stakeholders in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and the Maritimes. Consensus building activities were divided into two sessions:

Winter 2021 – The first round of consensus building took place virtually. The sessions were largely educational and outlined the program development process. Stakeholders also provided input into program development.
Winter 2024 – This next round of consensus building brought stakeholders back together to evaluate longer term options and the project’s success.

Pilot projects

Pilot projects provide hands on experience, demonstrate proof of concept, determine what collection and processing options are currently available and help explore end markets. Ag intensive regions across Canada were selected to participate in pilot projects. Pilots operated in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and PEI.

Best practices for handling ag plastics including twine, silage plastics and bale wrap were developed through pilots, and have now been incorporated into our Materials at a Glance page under What to Recycle & Where. Please review the province specific pages to learn more about what programs are available in your region.

Agricultural waste data

With the financial support of the Government of Canada through Environment and Climate Change Canada, two important data gathering exercises were completed to help inform this strategy:

An ag waste characterization that provides up to date figures on the types and volumes of on-farm plastic wastes used on Canadian farms.
An end market assessment identifying facilities that can manage or recycle on-farm plastics wastes in order to create a more circular economy for agricultural plastics.