AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms confirmed as recognized management organization (RMO) for the recovery and valorization of agricultural plastics in Quebec

Empty feed bags are among the new materials that farmers will be able to return through the Cleanfarms programs resulting from the new regulation.

Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec (July, 12 2023) –AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms is proud to be recognized by RECYC QUÉBEC as a management organization (RMO) for the recovery and recycling of plastics and packaging used in agriculture, as well as obsolete or unwanted pesticides and seeds. This recognition allows businesses that market such products in Quebec to fulfill their obligations under the new Regulation on the Recovery and Valorization of Products by Enterprises (RRVPE) of the Government of Quebec by joining AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms. It also confirms AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms’ expertise and commitment to the recovery and valorization of agricultural products, as well as its evolving position in the Quebec agricultural landscape over the last 13 years.

This designation applies to four subcategories of agricultural products targeted by the RRVPE, namely subcategories 1 (silage plastics), 2 (agricultural bags), 3 (pesticide and fertilizer containers) and 7 (pesticides and treated seeds). The obligation for businesses to ensure the recovery and valorization of products belonging to these categories came into effect on June 30th.

With this designation, working in collaboration with public and private stakeholders, the AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms team is poised to expand existing programs with long term opportunities to apply circular economy solutions for these agricultural packaging products and plastics.

“On behalf of our current and future members, AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms thanks RECYC-QUÉBEC for its trust and commits wholeheartedly to making every effort to contribute to the achievement of recovery and valorization objectives for products used in agriculture,” said Barry Friesen, Executive Director of AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms. “By reaching this new milestone in the implementation of its extended producer responsibility plan, Quebec confirms its leadership in the circular economy and waste reduction in the agricultural sector. Earning this recognition deepens our drive to make recycling opportunities accessible to farmers – we feel immense pride to be in this position.”

Christine Lajeunesse, Director of AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms for Eastern Canada, concludes, “Our designation as a recognized management organization reflects the contribution of all our partners, especially Quebec’s agricultural producers who, like us, are deeply committed to the health of their lands and the environment in general. ”

About AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms

AgriRÉCUP/Cleanfarms is an 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 through a network of over 1,500 collection sites. It is funded by its members in the crop protection, seed, fertilizer, animal health medication, ag plastics industries. The organization is known in Quebec as “AgriRÉCUP” and elsewhere as “Cleanfarms”, and has staff located in St-Bruno, Quebec; Etobicoke, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; and Lethbridge, Alberta.

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Cleanfarms.ca

Contact:
Margot Beverley  |  705-796-8829  |  beverleym@agrirecup.ca

Cleanfarms certified as a Great Place to Work®

A focus on continuous staff engagement and development makes Cleanfarms a great place to work. Photographed is Cleanfarms staff at a recent team development event in Niagara, Ontario.

Etobicoke, ON (June 29, 2023) – For the first time ever, Cleanfarms put itself to the “Great Place to Work®” test and the verdict is in. Exceeding each of its key criteria, Cleanfarms is now certified as a Great Place to Work®, illustrating the synergy between staff members’ passions for keeping Canadian farms clean and working together to bring innovative solutions to life.

With a team spanning the country, Cleanfarms leverages a breadth of expertise and experience to expand opportunities to achieve zero waste from agriculture, from coast to coast. Underpinned by a culture of support, forward-thinking, and continuous improvement, this group shares a passion for promoting sustainability in agriculture and collaborating to bring innovative and ecological waste management solutions to farmers.

A drive to understand and improve the experience and output of the Cleanfarms team inspired the organization’s participation in the Great Place to Work® certification. Joining the ranks of hundreds of inspiring organizations globally, Cleanfarms has earned recognition from Great Place to Work® for its unwavering commitment to its culture and staff’s well-being.

“Going through the certification process was a unique opportunity to reflect on the culture we’ve worked hard to foster and to hear directly from our staff about their experiences,” says Barry Friesen, Executive Director of Cleanfarms. The certification process entailed an anonymous staff survey to benchmark satisfaction in key areas such as management, communication practices and more.

Cleanfarms analyzed the survey results, not just to measure achievements but also to identify opportunities to strengthen the organization to meet the demands of the young and dynamic field of endeavour. The vast majority of the team agreed that Cleanfarms is a great workplace, highlighting cohesive and collaborative direction offered by its management team, community contribution and access to training as just some of the contributing factors. And demonstrating a strong commitment to continuous improvement, they offered valued suggestions for how to continue to grow in a positive way that will be addressed over the months to come.

Friesen continues, “Receiving this certification represents our core values of putting people first and doing what’s right. We accept it with pride and recognize it as a celebration of our culture and community. We understand that when our team is well taken care of, they are better equipped to extend that care to others through the work we do.”

Being recognized as a Great Place to Work® is an important step for Cleanfarms. The certification sets the standard for the organization’s ongoing commitment to helping its team and culture thrive year after year.

 

About Cleanfarms

Cleanfarms is an 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. It has staff located in Lethbridge, Alberta; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Etobicoke, Ontario; and St-Bruno, Quebec.

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Cleanfarms.ca

Contact:

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

2022 a Year of New Opportunities for Farmers to Recycle More Agricultural Plastics

Cleanfarms is operating pilot projects throughout Canada to assess compactor mechanisms that help farmers manage loose agricultural plastic sheets typically used for agricultural bale wrap, bunker covers and silage tarps. Farmers can compress the plastic film on the farm so that it is easier to store and transport to recycling collection sites. Once collected, the recovered plastic will be repurposed in a circular economy. – Cleanfarms photo

ETOBICOKE, ON (May 4, 2023) – Cleanfarms has posted its 2022 annual report, showcasing the expansion of on-the-ground programs that Canadian farmers can use to manage waste agricultural plastic products and packaging for recycling or safe disposal when they are no longer needed.

In the report, Cleanfarms describes how opportunities to divert agricultural waste materials from landfill have expanded beyond the long-standing small and large pesticide and fertilizer containers, adding to the options available to operate farms sustainably.

2022, in particular, saw a three-year project  to collect seed, pesticide and inoculant (SPI) bags across the Prairies transition from a pilot to a permanent program. Commonly used to deliver agricultural crop inputs, SPI bags have been collected in the Maritimes, Ontario and Quebec for more than a decade, but it was not an option available to farmers in the west. Now empty SPI bags can be taken to Cleanfarms’ collection sites from Prince Edward Island west to Alberta. In 2022, about 553,800 kg of SPI bags, including fertilizer bags in Quebec, were recovered.

“Adding SPI bags to the list of items farmers can manage for recycling or safe disposal across the country, instead of landfilling, burning or burying them, is a major step forward in our goal to have zero plastic agricultural waste disposed of in landfill,” said Cleanfarms Executive Director Barry Friesen.

“Plastic products like grain bags, baler twine, jugs and 1000L totes are important tools in the agricultural industry. Farmers, like other Canadians, want ways to manage these materials as part of a sustainable circular economy. At Cleanfarms, our job is to develop and launch programs that are cost efficient and give growers options to see these materials repurposed as new products.”

Another leading-edge recycling program included in the annual report is the pilot project to recover bale wrap and silage bags, made from a plastic commonly used to preserve hay for livestock feed. Through partnerships such as with Dairy Farmers of Canada, Cleanfarms initiated pilot projects across the country to assess the effectiveness of using a compactor mechanism to compress loose bale wrap and silage bags, bunker covers and silage tarps into bales that are more easily stored and transported for recycling.

Quebec has one of the most comprehensive pilot programs in Canada, collecting a variety of agricultural plastics and non-organic packaging for recycling and safe disposal. In its fourth year in 2022, it enabled farmers to manage bale wrap, silage bags, bunker covers, baler twine, netting and maple tubing for recycling.

“Pilot projects are the foundation of Cleanfarms’ program development to recover these materials. Through pilots we figure out how growers will use the programs, how to collect and transport materials, and how to ensure recyclables go to viable end markets. Pilots are the tool we use to determine what works and what doesn’t, and how to tweak systems until they are as efficient as possible. Then, wherever possible, we transition them to permanent programs,” Friesen explained.

He noted that connections with partners and with growers themselves are the direct result of having a group of on-the-ground knowledgeable, experienced staff who have backgrounds in Canadian agriculture.

“Our staff in provinces across the country ensure that these programs reflect the variations in agriculture from coast to coast, and that’s the secret sauce in laying the groundwork for effective recycling and safe management of used agricultural plastics and other non-organic packaging and products,” Friesen said.

In the 2022 annual report, Cleanfarms highlighted the collection of agricultural materials since the inception of the programs for each (rounded):

  • Plastic pesticide and fertilizer containers 23L and smaller – 149 million units
  • Non-refillable bulk pesticide and fertilizer drums and totes – 392,000 units
  • Seed and pesticide bags – 3,000 tonnes
  • Unwanted old pesticides – 4,200 tonnes
  • Old, obsolete livestock/equine medications – 67.3 tonnes
  • Grain bags, agricultural film and baler twine plastic – 12,700 tonnes
  • Maple Sap Tubing (in Quebec only) – 342 tonnes

Cleanfarms collects ag waste materials through valued partnerships with more than 1,500 recycling collection sites across Canada.

About Cleanfarms

Cleanfarms is an 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. It has staff located in Lethbridge, Alberta; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Etobicoke, Ontario; and St-Bruno, Quebec.

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Cleanfarms.ca

Contact:

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

Earth Day Shines Light on Agricultural Plastics Recycling Achievements

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Earth Day on April 22 focuses on how people can adopt one initiative that when compounded by others doing the same thing, can achieve significant outcomes. This has never been more important than now, given concerns about climate change.

One such action that many Canadian farmers take is recycling agricultural plastics. Through their participation in Cleanfarms’ agricultural packaging and products recycling programs, Canadian farmers demonstrate their commitment to land stewardship and caring for the environment. This practice goes beyond just one day each year.

For example, in 2022, Canadian farmers brought more than 2M kg. of empty plastic pesticide and fertilizer containers 23L and smaller to Cleanfarms collection sites. The plastic is destined to be repurposed into new products some of which will be used on farms, such as flexible drainage pipe, fence posts, composite dimensional lumber used in industrial construction, plastic pallets, guard rails, and parking lot curb stop.

“We’re marking Earth Day and Earth Week by kicking off our 2023 plastic container recycling program,” says Barry Friesen, Executive Director of Cleanfarms.  “By May 1, 1,500 plus of our collection sites across Canada will be accepting empty, single-use pesticide and fertilizer containers and other items from farmers again, and many already are. Earth Day is also a great time to recommit to our goal of working to divert all ag plastic waste from landfill and into a circular economy.”

The average recovery rates for pesticide and fertilizer containers 23L and smaller is 77%.

Farmers Have More Options to Manage ‘End of Life’ Ag Products and Packaging

Cleanfarms is expanding the number of programs targeting agricultural plastic materials as well as other products used in Canada’s ag industry. Farmers are encouraged to check if they have ag materials that they haven’t recycled previously that can now be returned to a collection site. Beyond containers 23L and smaller, Cleanfarms programs include:

  • a Canada-wide recycling program for large non-deposit plastic totes and drums for pesticides and fertilizers
  • recycling programs for grain bags and baler twine in the Prairie provinces with a pilot also in British Columbia
  • a Canada-wide collection and disposal program for unwanted pesticides and old, obsolete livestock and equine medications, and
  • a safe disposal program for seed and pesticide bags and inoculant bags across most provinces.

Ongoing growth in collection volumes of these materials underscores farmers’ willingness to adopt new practices when environmentally preferred management options are available to them. Results of the pilot program to collect empty seed, pesticide and inoculant bags across the Prairies led to a Cleanfarms decision to transition the pilot into a permanent program at the end of last year.

In addition to these programs, Cleanfarms operates pilot projects across the country to assess how to shape new programs down the road for ag materials such as baler twine, bale wrap, silage wrap and silage tarps. The pilots are the result of collaboration from many partnered organizations, collection site staff, transporters, processors, and farmers, and are vital to achieving Cleanfarms’ long-term goal of eliminating ag waste from the environment.

Regarding Cleanfarms’ many programs and pilots, Friesen says, “Seeing stakeholders across sectors come together to do what’s right for the planet motivates our team. Most importantly, the impact of the effort invested by our partners and program participants contributes to the work that is being done to address climate change.”

 

Cleanfarms is an 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 and grain bag industries. It has staff located in Lethbridge, Alberta; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Etobicoke, Ontario; and St-Bruno, Quebec.

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

‘Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It!’ Gaining Ground Recovering Ag Plastics for Recycling

Plastic Baler Twine Bagged for Recycling – Alberta farmers use about 2,200 tonnes of plastic baler twine annually. Managing the plastic after it has been cut off hay bales is a challenge for many farmers but a pilot program is focusing on recovering that material so it can be repurposed for use in manufacturing new plastic products. Farmers put the used twine in Cleanfarms collection bags and take it to collection sites for recycling. -Cleanfarms photo

LETHBRIDGE, AB (March 28, 2023) – Farmers in Alberta use about 2,000 tonnes of grain bags and approximately 2,200* tonnes of plastic baler twine annually. These plastic tools are essential in today’s farming operations—grain bags to temporarily store harvested grains, and twine to bind crops for storage and transport. But managing these plastics after use has been challenging for many farmers.

That’s changing under a pilot program called Alberta Ag Plastic. Recycle It!

The pilot has been developed in Alberta for Alberta farmers. It offers a solution to manage the materials environmentally, giving farmers options to operate their farms sustainably.

From the start of the ‘Recycle It!’ pilot in October 2019 and continuing through December 2022, farmers have brought close to 2,270 tonnes of grain bag plastic and over 336 tonnes of used plastic baler twine to designated collection locations for recycling. For grain bags, that’s equal to 126 semi-trailers full of rolled up grain bags, lined up end to end for two km. The twine collected for recycling equates to the amount that would be used to wrap 922,000 large square hay bales.

The pilot project is led by the multi-stakeholder Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group. Funds were granted for the pilot by the Government of Alberta and are administered by Alberta Beef Producers. The long-term goal is to expand the pilot into a permanent program.

“This time of year, I have my cows on bale grazing and most of the twine I take off my bales is clean and easy to recycle. Putting it in a recycling bag rather than a garbage bag was an easy habit to form and I am glad there is a better place for it to go, rather than into a landfill,” said beef producer and Chair of the Alberta Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG) Assar Grinde.

Cleanfarms, a non-profit industry stewardship organization operates the Alberta pilot on behalf of APRG. Cleanfarms has contracted with 47 collection partners to establish a network of 147 individual collection locations – 45 that collect both grain bags and twine, one that collects grain bags only and 101 that collect twine only. Cleanfarms is opening new collection locations regularly to provide additional access for farmers.

“It is a pleasure to work with APRG and Alberta farmers to help make recycling ag plastics a viable option for managing these materials,” said Cleanfarms Executive Director Barry Friesen. “Farmers in this province have already shown that they are willing to recycle these used ag tools as soon as opportunities are available to them. We credit them for what they have accomplished so far and look forward to further successes in this program.”

Cleanfarms arranges for the collection and transportation of the ag plastics as the first step in the recycling process. Used grain bags go to one of two facilities in Alberta, one in Bashaw and the other near Bassano, and baler twine goes to recycling facilities in the US.

Grain bag plastic is converted into plastic pellets which are shipped to manufacturers across Canada and the USA to be used to make new plastic items such as agricultural film plastics, plastic bags, composite dimensional lumber, and agricultural fence posts. Research and development are underway to use these pellets in the manufacturing of new grain bags.

Twine is recycled into plastic pellets which are blended with other plastic resins to manufacture products such as car parts, flowerpots, composite decking, and dimensional lumber.

Farmers can go to AlbertaAgPlastics.ca on the Cleanfarms website to find twine and grain bag collection sites and instructions on how to prepare the material for recycling.

About APRG

The Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG) formed in 2016 to find solutions for agricultural plastics. The APRG is made up of partners including commodity groups, retailers, municipalities, academic institutions, recyclers, and farmers. The group is now focused on the transition of the pilot into a permanent program as well as exploring solutions for other ag plastics such as bale wrap and silage plastic. aprg.ca

About Cleanfarms

Cleanfarms is a national, non-profit 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, fertilizer, seed, animal health medication, and ag plastics industries. It has staff located in Lethbridge, Alberta; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Etobicoke, Ontario; and St-Bruno, Quebec.

 

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*Alberta Waste Characterization Study

Media Contacts:
Tammy Schwass, APRG | 403-835-6467 | tammy@albertaplasticsrecycling.com
Barbara McConnell, Cleanfarms | 416-452-2373 | bmcconnell@cleanfarms.ca

“Student innovation helps Fraser Valley farmers tackle weighty plastic problem” featured in CBC News

British Columbia farmers are now able to easily handle and recycle their plastic, thanks to innovations from some University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) students and Cleanfarms.

Read: Student innovation helps Fraser Valley farmers tackle weighty plastic problem

“Lynn Leavitt Receives Award in Recognition of Environmental Stewardship” featured in Beef Farmers of Ontario News

Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) recently announced that Farmer Lynn Leavitt of Leavitt’s Black Angus Beef is the recipient of the 2023 recipient of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA), sponsored by the RBC Royal Bank.

Read: February 22, 2023 Press Release

Manitoba Stewardship Program Plan Renewal 2023

Manitoba: Cleanfarms’ government-approved stewardship program plan for empty pesticide and fertilizer container recycling is up for renewal in 2023. Learn more

“Moving toward a circular economy with agricultural recycling programs” featured in Globe & Mail’s Next Generation Farming Report

Containers of unwanted pesticides and old livestock/equine medications recovered at a recent Cleanfarms collection event

The Globe and Mail “Next Generation Farming Report” highlights Cleanfarms’ goal to keep plastics, like pesticide and fertilizer jugs, twine, bale and silage wrap, out of landfill and manage on-farm agricultural waste materials in the most sustainable way possible.

Visit: Moving toward a circular economy with agricultural recycling programs