Cleanfarms Now Collecting Unwanted Agricultural Pesticides and Old Livestock/Equine Medications in BC Interior, Kootenays and Okanagan

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

Lethbridge, AB) September 24, 2021 – Cleanfarms is back in British Columbia’s interior holding one-day events in 11 locations from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., September 27 to October 21 to collect unwanted and old agricultural pesticides and obsolete livestock, equine and farm animal medications.

Cleanfarms operates this program so farmers can dispose of these unwanted materials keeping them out of the environment and managed for safe disposal.

Cleanfarms “Unwanted Pesticides and Old Livestock/Equine Medications” collection program is funded entirely by its crop input members and through a partnership with the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI). The program rotates into various regions across Canada every three years.

“Farmers wait for this program to come back to their region. We know they are eager to dispose of these old materials safely without risk to the environment. It helps them keep their farms clean and sustainable,” said Cleanfarms Executive Director Barry Friesen.

Since the program began more than 10 years ago, 3.7 million kg of unwanted pesticides and 52,000 kg of obsolete farm animal (cattle, horses, goats, poultry) health medications have been collected across the country.

This year’s collection sites are (in alpha order):

  • ERICKSON – Tuesday, Oct. 5 – Growers Supply – Creston, 754 – 35 Ave South, 250-428-5124
  • KAMLOOPS – Wednesday, Oct. 13 – Purity Feed Ltd., 471 Okanagan Way, 250-372-2233
  • KELOWNA – Tuesday, Oct. 19 – Grower’s Supply – Kelowna, 2605 Acland Rd., 250-765-4500
  • McBRIDE – Monday, Sept. 27 – McBride Regional Transfer Station, 500 NW Frontage Rd., 250-960-4400
  • OLIVER – Thursday, Oct. 21 – Grower’s Supply – Oliver, 5911 Sawmill Rd., 250-498-6406
  • PENTICTON – Wednesday, Oct. 20, Growers Supply – Penticton, 272 Dawson Rd., 250-493-2885
  • PRINCE GEORGE – Tuesday, Sept. 28 – Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill, 6595 Landfill Rd., 250-960-4400
  • QUESNEL – Thursday, Sept. 30 – Four Rivers Co-operative, Quesnel Branch, 1280 Quesnel Hixon Rd., 250-992-7274
  • VANDERHOOF – Wednesday, Sept. 29 – Four Rivers Co-op, 1055 Hwy 16 West, 250-567-4225
  • VERNON – Thursday, Oct. 14 – Growers Supply – Vernon, 1200 Waddington Dr., 250-545-1278
  • WILLIAMS LAKE – Friday, Oct. 1, 153 Mile Fertilizer, #80 – 5101 Frizzi Rd., 250-392-5333

Events details can be found on Cleanfarms.ca under “what to recycle & where”. This year, COVID precautions will be in place.

Materials accepted in the Cleanfarms program include:

  • old or unwanted agricultural pesticides (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label)
  • commercial pesticides for golf courses and industrial and commercial pest control products (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label)
  • medications that are used in rearing animals in an agricultural context or for equine use (identified with a DIN number, serial number or Pest Control Product number on the label)

The program does NOT accept:

  • fertilizer, diluted solution, large quantities of unopened product, and treated seed
  • needles/sharps, medicated feed, aerosol containers, premises disinfectants/sanitizers, veterinary clinic waste and medications, ear tags, and aerosols
  • any other household hazardous waste.

This program will return to these BC regions in 2024.

About Cleanfarms

Cleanfarms is a national not-for-profit organization that delivers industry-funded, end-of-life stewardship programs to the agricultural sector across Canada. It works collaboratively with more than 70 members in the pesticide, fertilizer, seed, ag plastic, and animal health medication sectors, as well as partner agencies, and governments to ensure that Canadian farmers can actively contribute to a healthy environment and a sustainable future.

Cleanfarms has over ten years’ experience identifying and helping to develop North American markets for agricultural plastics through the ongoing development and management of farmer-focused recycling programs. It has staff located in Lethbridge, Alberta; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Etobicoke, Ontario; and St-Bruno, Quebec.

www.cleanfarms.ca

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Media Contact:
Margot Beverley, Director, Communications, Cleanfarms
beverleym@cleanfarms.ca | (647) 557-1801

Cleanfarms Now Collecting Unwanted Agricultural Pesticides and Old Livestock/Equine Medications in Northern Saskatchewan

(Moose Jaw, SK) September 24, 2021 – Cleanfarms is back in northern Saskatchewan holding one-day events in 20 locations from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., October 4 to 8 to collect unwanted and old agricultural pesticides and obsolete livestock, equine and farm animal medications.

Cleanfarms operates this program so farmers can dispose of these unwanted materials keeping them out of the environment and managed for safe disposal.

Cleanfarms’ “Unwanted Pesticides and Old Livestock/Equine Medications” collection program is funded entirely by its crop input members and through a partnership with the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI). The program rotates into various regions across Canada every three years.

“Farmers wait for this program to come back to their region. We know they are eager to dispose of these old materials safely without risk to the environment. It helps them keep their farms clean and sustainable,” said Cleanfarms Executive Director Barry Friesen.

Since the program began more than 10 years ago, 3.7 million kg of unwanted pesticides and 52,000 kg of obsolete farm animal (cattle, horses, goats, poultry) health medications have been collected across the country.

This year’s collection sites are (in alpha order):

  • CARROT RIVER – Tuesday, Oct. 5 – Richardson Pioneer, 306-768-8084
  • CRAIK – Friday, Oct. 8 – Nutrien Ag Solutions-Craik, 306-847-2040
  • HUMBOLDT – Thursday, Oct. 7 – Humboldt Co-op, 306-231-5915
  • LEADER – Friday, Oct. 8 – G-Mac’s Ag Team Inc., 306-628-3886
  • LLOYDMINSTER – Tuesday, Oct. 5 – Veikle Agro (Lloyd) Inc., 306-398-7516
  • LUSELAND – Wednesday, Oct. 6 – Rack Petroleum, 306-372-4411
  • MEADOW LAKE – Thursday, Oct. 7 – Meadow Lake Co-op Service Centre, 306-236-3644
  • MELFORT – Monday, Oct. 4 – Paragon Ag Services Ltd., 306-752-3343
  • NOKOMIS – Thursday, Oct. 7 – Richardson Pioneer-Nokomis, 306-528-4484
  • NORQUAY – Tuesday, Oct. 5 – Norquay Co-operative, 306-594-2215
  • NORTH BATTLEFORD – Friday, Oct. 8 – Battleford Co-op Farm Supply, 306-445-9457
  • PRAIRIE RIVER – Wednesday, Oct. 6 – Nutrien Ag Solutions-Prairie River, 306-889-2172
  • ROSETOWN – Thursday, Oct. 7 – G-Macs AgTeam Inc., 306-882-2600
  • ROSTHERN – Monday, Oct. 4 – Blair’s Fertilizer, 306-232-4223
  • SASKATOON – Friday, Oct. 8 – Saskatoon Co-op Agro Centre, 306-933-3836
  • SHELLBROOK – Tuesday, Oct. 5 – Lake Country Co-operative Association Limited, 306-714-7803
  • SPIRITWOOD – Wednesday, Oct. 6 – G-Mac’s Ag Team Inc., 306-883-2476
  • UNITY – Monday, Oct. 4 – Unity Cargill, 306-228-4144
  • WYNYARD – Monday, Oct. 4 – Cargill Ltd., 306-554-2244
  • YORKTON – Wednesday, Oct. 6 – Richardson Pioneer-Yorkton, 306-786-5647

Events details can be found on Cleanfarms.ca under “what to recycle & where”. This year, COVID precautions will be in place.

Materials accepted in the Cleanfarms program include:

  • old or unwanted agricultural pesticides (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label)
  • commercial pesticides for golf courses and industrial and commercial pest control products (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label)
  • medications that are used in rearing animals in an agricultural context or for equine use (identified with a DIN number, serial number or Pest Control Product number on the label)

The program does NOT accept:

  • fertilizer, diluted solution, large quantities of unopened product, and treated seed
  • needles/sharps, medicated feed, aerosol containers, premises disinfectants/sanitizers, veterinary clinic waste and medications, ear tags, and aerosols
  • any other household hazardous waste.

This program will return to northern Saskatchewan in 2024.

About Cleanfarms

Cleanfarms is a national not-for-profit organization that delivers industry-funded, end-of-life stewardship programs to the agricultural sector across Canada. It works collaboratively with more than 70 members in the pesticide, fertilizer, seed, ag plastic, and animal health medication sectors, as well as partner agencies, and governments to ensure that Canadian farmers can actively contribute to a healthy environment and a sustainable future.

Cleanfarms has over ten years’ experience identifying and helping to develop North American markets for agricultural plastics through the ongoing development and management of farmer-focused recycling programs. It has staff located in Lethbridge, Alberta; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Etobicoke, Ontario; and St-Bruno, Quebec.

www.cleanfarms.ca

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Media Contact:
Margot Beverley, Director, Communications, Cleanfarms
beverleym@cleanfarms.ca | (647) 557-1801

Twine Recycling is Taking off in Saskatchewan

September 21, 2021 – Tammy Shields writes about Cleanfarms’ twine recycling program in Rural Councillor’s 2021 Agriculture & Environment edition (p. 21)

Cleanfarms welcomes Anna Potapova as Senior Coordinator to help expand ag plastics recycling in Quebec

Cleanfarms is proud to welcome Anna Potapova to our team as Senior Coordinator for ag plastics recovery and recycling programming in Quebec. Trained as an agricultural economist and with a commitment to promoting sustainability in agriculture, Anna will provide support to expand a series of pilot programs in Quebec to recover and recycle waste materials from farms across the province.  She will provide support for existing programs and set up new pilots across the province over the months ahead.

She joins the team with over 10 years experience working in the province’s agricultural industry. Most recently, as Agricultural and Agri-Food Development Commissioner with the Regional County Municipality of Maskoutains, she worked closely with Cleanfarms to develop the pilot program to recover bale wrap, twine and netting from at three pilot sites. These operations are in progress now and yielding important insights for development of new pilots in more communities throughout Quebec.

“Managing plastic waste effectively is a priority and Quebec farmers across the province are embracing new opportunities to recover and recycle agricultural wastes through Cleanfarms programs,” said Barry Friesen, Cleanfarms Executive Director. “Anna brings a depth of expertise in agricultural program management in Quebec that will help bring recycling opportunities to many new communities so more materials can be managed safely and kept out of landfill.”

Working closely with Eastern Regional Manager Christine Lajeunesse, Anna will develop plans and work with regions, municipalities, retailers, distributors, recyclers and farmers to establish successful operations.  Her work will focus on strategic planning, budgeting, managing logistics, confirming end markets for recovered materials, working with community members and government representatives to guide the pilots through development to successful operation.

Anna can be reached 450-641-4948 | potapovaa@cleanfarms.ca

Cleanfarms Calling for Farmers to Recycle 100% of Plastic Ag Jugs to Mark 30th Anniversary

Thirty years ago, the crop protection industry in Canada planted the seeds of a voluntary stewardship program in Prairie communities to collect empty agricultural plastic jugs for recycling.

The idea took root and since then, Cleanfarms has expanded the program across Canada bringing in a total of about 126 million plastic jugs that have been recycled into new products instead of disposed in landfill.

During Earth Week, April 22 to 28, Cleanfarms is celebrating the 30th anniversary of collecting plastic jugs 23L and under for recycling. As this foundational agricultural waste collection program grew, it cleared the path for Cleanfarms to introduce a broader range of programs to collect plastic farm waste materials such as empty seed, fertilizer and pesticide bags; silage wrap; large pesticide and fertilizer drums and totes; twine; and grain bags.

“We’re excited that we’ve been able to increase the recovery of empty containers thanks to Canadian farmers and more than 1,000 ag-retail and municipal collection sites across the country. In 2018, we recovered nearly 5.8 million containers, a 14% increase by volume over 2017,” said Barry Friesen, Cleanfarms general manager.

Currently, Cleanfarms recovers about 65% of the smaller plastic containers that are placed on the market each year.

“Our success in 2018 set us up to go after 100% recovery to celebrate our 30 thanniversary in 2019. We’re asking farmers who use these products to follow best practice and recycle every one of the empty containers when they’re finished with them. It’s a big ask but we know Canadian farmers are keen stewards of their land and are committed to environmental responsibility when it comes to how this packaging is managed,” Friesen said.

Recovered agricultural plastics are recycled into new products such as farm drainage tile, flexible irrigation pipe and garbage bags.

2018 Number of Small Plastic Containers 23L and under Recovery for Recycling by Province

2018 Number of Small Plastic Containers 23L and under Recovery for Recycling by Province

 

For further information:
647-557-1801 | 705-796-8829
beverleym@cleanfarms.ca

Cleanfarms’ seed & pesticide bag collection micro-pilots: another first for Moose Jaw farmers and ag-retailers

From May to September 2018, farmers in the Moose Jaw area turned in approximately 600 kilograms of bags through three ag-retailers: Hawks Agro, Nutrien Ag Solutions and Prairie Plains Agro. Farmers were provided with plastic collection bags, which held smaller seed and pesticide bags. The larger tote bags (supersacks) were flattened and tied together in bundles of six or less. (Photos on the page show what it looks like.)

Waste characterization studies were then performed to help identify the types, weights and brands of bags that were brought in for disposal. The bags will now be disposed of through waste to energy recovery.

The response from farmers, retailers and industry was very positive. The most common question came from stakeholders outside of the project area asking when the program would be available closer to their farms.

As Cleanfarms wraps up the 2018 micro pilots, plans are underway to expand the program to a wider area in southwest Saskatchewan and in select areas of Alberta and Manitoba.

These micro-pilots are an extension of Cleanfarms’ industry-funded, Eastern Canadian seed & pesticide bag collection program which has become an important component of end of life stewardship for industry and farmers.

Want to learn more? 

Email us to join our mailing list.

Long term planning for an agricultural plastics recycling program in Manitoba starts this fall

A multi-phased project aimed at developing a long-term, sustainable plan for managing agricultural plastic waste such as grain bags, bale and silage wrap and twine will begin this fall.

Manitoba Sustainable Development has asked Cleanfarms to lead this project which will include the expansion of a government-funded pilot project and stakeholder consultations. This will build into an implementation plan for a province-wide, industry-funded program in 2020.

Farmers currently have access to 19 collection sites through this pilot project and turned in over 61 metric tonnes of film and twine for recycling in 2016 and 2017. Collections are primarily offered through rural municipalities who strongly support this initiative that helps divert these materials from their landfills.

Manitoba’s ag plastic industry, growers and municipalities will be asked to provide input into a plan that will outline how ag plastics would be managed using extended producer responsibility, the model used to manage many of the province’s existing recycling programs. Cleanfarms will also engage with stakeholders across the Prairies to encourage harmonization.

The final phase of this work will provide recommendations for transitioning the pilots into a program that is regulated under Manitoba’s Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation. This will provide farmers with increased access to collection sites and put appropriate measures in place to transfer financing to industry.

Cleanfarms currently operates Saskatchewan’s industry-funded grain bag recycling program, in addition to programs for empty pesticide and fertilizer containers and obsolete pesticide and animal health medications.

For more information or to join our distribution list, please email us.

Seed & pesticide bag micro-pilots now available in Moose Jaw

Farmers in the Moose Jaw region now have access to a Cleanfarms disposal program for empty seed and pesticide bags for the 2018 growing season.

Ontario and Quebec farmers have had access to a similar program since 2014. What started as a small-scale project with five sites has grown to an industry-funded, region-wide collection program. In 2017 alone, farmers returned almost 300,000 kilograms of bags.

Cleanfarms has had a number of inquiries from farmers, municipalities and industry about offering similar programming in Western Canada and we are now working with three ag-retailers in the Moose Jaw region to explore this.

This micro-pilot is only available to farmer-customers who use these three ag retailers. Customers will be provided with collection bags to hold their 22.5 kg (or smaller) seed and pesticide bags. Large one-tonne tote bags (supersacks) can be flattened and tied (with twine) in bundles of six or less.

In the near-term, the bags will be sent for energy recovery while other recycling options are explored.

We welcome the opportunity to connect with your account managers in the region to ensure this pilot best meets the needs of farmers in the area. Please email us to ensure that we have your local contacts on our mailing list.

We look forward to sharing our progress with the Canadian Seed Trade Association, seed companies and additional stakeholders as this work unfolds.