Grain bag recycling is available as follows:
Alberta
- Through the Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It! program.
Saskatchewan
- Through its regulated agricultural plastics program.
Manitoba
- Grain bags included in Manitoba pilots and accepted at most sites that currently accept Twine, Bale and Silage Wrap. Draft Manitoba Ag Plastic Plan (MAPP) in consultation until Jan. 12, 2021 – view MAPP details.
Alberta
Follow these 3 steps to ensure that your used grain bags can be accepted and recycled:
- 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 or subject to a landfill tipping fee or additional charges at drop off.
- Roll – Prepare grain bags by tightly rolling with a mechanical grain bag roller or baler, and then securing tightly with twine. In Alberta, grain bag rollers and compactors are available for use at some but not all collection sites. Contact your local collection site to inquire if a grain bag roller is available for use.
- Return – Please contact your local pilot collection site prior to dropping off material if unloading assistance is required and if you are unsure if you have prepared it properly. Some, but not all, Alberta collection sites may also accept properly prepared twine (excluding net wrap) for recycling.
What‘s In & What’s Out in Alberta
| What’s In | What’s Out |
|---|---|
|
*Some sites that have a compactor may be able to accept unrolled or hand-rolled grain bags. Contact your local collection site for further information. |
Machine Rolled and Secured with Twine
No Hand-Rolled Bags
No Loose Drop-Offs
No Silage Tarps or Other Material
Alberta FAQs
Do all Alberta pilot sites collect grain bags along with twine?
There will be some variation between sites – please call ahead to check what your local site collects.
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.
Why can’t I bring in my bale/silage film or net wrap?
Recycling markets are not currently available for these items.
Is funding available to farmers for grain bag rollers?
Alberta producers can apply for 50% funding towards the purchase of a grain bag roller or a compactor under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) program.
Can I bring other types of ag plastics to a collection site?
Call your collection site first. Some sites are diverting other agricultural plastics from landfill. These practices are not separate from this government funded pilot.
Can clubroot or other diseases be picked up at a landfill? How can I minimize the risk of transference?
Pest control officers generally deem this low risk. Best management practices, including cleaning of machinery and tires at the farm level, will help manage this risk.
Are there sites not listed on this page that are collecting ag plastics in Alberta?
There is a lot of interest in helping farmers recycle ag plastics. Any establishment can (at their own cost) collect and/or recycle various materials. There are only 20 pilot sites affiliated with, and eligible for limited funding through, the Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It! pilot program at this time. Some pilot sites may be exploring, at their own cost, arrangements with local transfer sites to collect grain bags and twine. Logistics, onsite procedures, associated costs etc. at these transfer sites are separate from the Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It! pilot program. Contact your transfer site for complete details.
Is there any assistance to unload once I get to a collection site?
Please call your local collection site before arriving if you require any assistance. You may be required to book an appointment to ensure equipment and help is available. Please make sure you keep this appointment.
Is there any assistance provided for equipment to roll grain bags?
Please contact your local collection site or County/MD office to see if these services are available.
What about other agricultural plastics?
Some plastics are returned to municipal landfills and some to ag-retail for recycling. There are some non-program materials as well. In the future, we hope to address more waste management on farm, outside of the five core programs which Cleanfarms currently offers to farmers in Alberta. For further information, please visit our Materials at a Glance page and click on the material you wish to recycle.
What about bulk bags, seed bags and pesticide bags?
Cleanfarms has started a pilot in Alberta for a return to ag-retail for these materials. Please contact your local ag-retailer to determine if they are one of the pilot sites. Cleanfarms is working to implement a provincial wide program in the future.
Funds for the pilot project were granted by the Government of Alberta and are administered by Alberta Beef Producers.
Saskatchewan
Follow these 3 steps to ensure that your used grain bags can be accepted and recycled:
- 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, or subject to a landfill tipping fee or additional charges at drop off.
- Roll – Prepare grain bags by rolling and tying with twine. Contact your local collection site for information on rolling grain bags. In Saskatchewan, starting in 2019, grain bag rollers should be available for use, free of charge, at most sites.
- Return – Please contact a collection site before dropping off material.
What‘s In & What’s Out in Saskatchewan
| What’s In | What’s Out |
|---|---|
|
|
Saskatchewan FAQs
Why is there an EHF on grain bags?
Grain bag recycling fees started November 1, 2018. The non-refundable EHF is part of a government regulated recycling program to fund the recycling of grain bags used in SK. The fee ($0.25 per kilogram) is applied when farmers purchase or import bags.
How much is the EHF on grain bags purchased in SK?
The non-refundable EHF is based on the weight of the grain bag and is 25 cents per kilogram. Here’s a link to the EHF schedule for different sizes of grain bags, which started on November 1, 2019.
Where does the EHF ‘end up’? Who manages this money?
First Sellers (companies that sell grain bags or import them into SK) are required by law to finance this recycling program and it’s financed via an EHF charged on grain bag sales. First Sellers remit this revenue to Cleanfarms, which operates the recycling program. Additional information about the important administrative aspects of this program are available here.
Why is this program only available in Saskatchewan?
The program was developed in response to a specific, province-based regulation. Other Western Canadian provinces are currently exploring similar programs.
What else do I need to know about EHFs on grain bags?
The EHF reflects the cost to recycle the grain bag. This model, where the cost associated with managing a product at end of life, is applied at the time of purchase is used by other stewardship programs that recycle items like electronics and oil and is a normal practice.
Will a grain bag roller be available at my local collection site?
Collection sites have the option of making a grain bag roller available free of charge to participants or working with another local agency to do so. Cleanfarms provides a financial incentive to collection sites to cover the purchase, insurance and maintenance of this piece of equipment.
Talk to your local collection site to find out more.
Which collection sites offer on-farm rolling and/or pickup of grain bags?
Some sites, RMs and/or watershed groups offer value added services like on-farm pickup, rolling and baling. Call your collection site or 306 341 4460 to learn more. These services are separate from the Cleanfarms program and the incentive that is provided to collection sites.
The EHF helps cover costs associated with site maintenance, shipping, loading and transportation of used grain bags to end markets once they have been dropped off at a collection depot/site.
Why can’t I drop off my twine at a collection site?
Twine is not included in the permanent, industry-funded program that began in 2018.
The transition from government-funded pilots to the (new) permanent, industry-funded model transfers financial responsibilities to industry, or businesses that supply material (i.e. grain bags) into the Saskatchewan market. At this time, the only materials covered by the program (according to the regulation) are grain bags.
Manitoba
Follow these 3 steps to ensure that your used grain bags can be accepted and recycled:*
- 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, or subject to a landfill tipping fee or additional charges at drop off.
- Roll – Prepare grain bags by rolling and tying with twine. Contact your local collection site for information on rolling grain bags. In Manitoba, starting in 2019, grain bag rollers should be available for use, free of charge, at most sites.
- Return – Please contact a collection site before dropping off material.
*Pilot collections toward development of Manitoba Ag Plastic Plan; subject to change; please call your collection site in advance to confirm details
What‘s In & What’s Out in Manitoba
| What’s In | What’s Out |
|---|---|
|
*Some sites that have a compactor may be able to accept unrolled or hand-rolled grain bags. Contact your local collection site for further information. |
Manitoba FAQs
Are grain bags part of a permanent collection program in Manitoba?
Grain bags have been collected in Manitoba as part of a pilot study. Insights provided from studies completed in province in 2011 (prior to the launch of the pilot programs and 2019 have provided valuable inputs to considerations for program development. A draft Manitoba Ag Plastic Program (MAPP) is in consultation. For details, visit MAPP
View your Alberta Collection Sites in a full screen map.
View your Saskatchewan grain bag collection sites in a full screen map.
View your Manitoba grain bag collection sites in a full screen map.
