Alberta & Saskatchewan
Twine is accepted.
Manitoba
Used baler twine is accepted.
Twine is being collected for recycling in several pilot projects including parts of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island.
For details, see: Building a Zero-Plastic-Waste Strategy for Agriculture Building a Zero Waste Strategy for Agriculture
Alberta
Follow these 3 steps to ensure that your used twine can be accepted and recycled.
Pick up, free, twine collection bags from pilot collection sites and select County/MD offices.
- Shake – Shake to remove debris, snow or ice.
- Bag –Place loose twine in a collection bag. Plastic twine only. Bags of twine mixed with netting, sisal twine, or other materials will be rejected.
- 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.
In Alberta, many sites accept both grain bags and twine, under the Alberta Ag-Plastic. ‘Recycle It!’ program. (Note: these materials must be stored and prepared separately.) View the Grain Bag recycling page for details and collection site map.
What‘s In & What’s Out in Alberta
| What’s In | What’s Out |
|---|---|
|
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Alberta FAQs
Can I use my seed or bulk tote bags as a collection bag?
Please call your collection site first. Some sites are accepting twine collected this way.
Why is net wrap not accepted?
Recycling markets are not currently available for net wrap.
If you co-mingle/mix net wrap and twine in the same collection bag, the whole bag will need to be disposed of, as it is too costly to separate them for recycling. Please ensure that you only place clean twine in a collection bag for recycling.
How do I recycle my other agricultural plastics?
Some types of ag plastic may be collected at your municipal waste transfer site, landfill, or ag-retailer and then shipped to recycling markets. To find out all the items that are managed by Cleanfarms, please visit our Alberta Program & Events webpage and click on the image of material you wish to recycle. If you don’t see an image of the item you’d like to collect, please email at info@cleanfarms.ca.
The pilot project is led by the multi-stakeholder Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group; funds were granted by the Government of Alberta and are administered by Alberta Beef Producers.
Manitoba
Follow these 3 steps to ensure that your used twine can be accepted and recycled:
- Shake – Remove as much debris, snow or ice as possible. Excessively dirty twine may be rejected, or subject to a landfill tipping fee or additional charges at drop off. DO NOT MIX DIFFERENT MATERIAL TYPES PLEASE.
- Bag – Place loose twine in a clear collection bag and secure bag closed with twine or a zip tie. Please do not knot the twine. Twine collection bags made which included post-consumer recycled content are available at no cost to producers and can be obtained from collection sites. Contact your collection site office for availability. Producers who choose to use their own clear collection bags are asked to poke holes in the bottom to ensure proper drainage.
- Return – Return to your local collection site.
What‘s In & What’s Out in Manitoba
| What’s In | What’s Out |
|---|---|
| Clean, dry, separated and bagged twine |
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Manitoba FAQs
How is this funded?
Baler twine (along with grain bag) recycling is funded through a government approved industry stewardship plan. Starting in December 2021, an EHF is applied to grain bag and baler twine purchases made in the province. The EHF is $0.33/kg for baler twine and 0.25/kg for grain bags.
Recycling for silage film and bale wrap is funded, in part, through a partnership with the Dairy Farmers of Canada.
Why is this program only funded in Manitoba?
This pilot program is funded through the provincial government (Manitoba Sustainable Development) so it is region specific.
Saskatchewan
Follow these 3 steps to ensure that your used twine can be accepted and recycled:
- Shake – Remove as much debris, snow or ice as possible. Excessively dirty twine may be rejected, or subject to a landfill tipping fee or additional charges at drop off.
- Bag –Place loose twine in a clear collection bag and secure bag closed with twine or a zip tie. Please do not knot the twine. Twine collection bags made which included post-consumer recycled content with perforated holes in the bottom are available at no cost to producers and can be obtained from pilot collection sites. Contact your collection site office for availability. Producers who choose to use their own clear collection bags are asked to poke holes in the bottom to ensure proper drainage.
- 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.
What‘s In & What’s Out in Saskatchewan
| What’s In | What’s Out |
|---|---|
|
|
Saskatchewan FAQs
Can I use my seed or bulk tote bags as a collection bag?
Yes. Please note that the bag will be inspected to ensure that only twine is brought in to a collection site.
Do all sites collect grain bags along with twine?
No. Call your local site. 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 net wrap?
Recycling markets are not currently available for net wrap.
How can an organization/municipality become a grain bag or twine collection site?
Call Cleanfarms at 306-341-4460 to discuss how you can get involved.
How are the twine collections being funded?
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.
View your Alberta twine collection sites in a full screen map.
View your Manitoba twine collection sites in a full screen map.
View Saskatchewan twine (and grain bag) collection sites in a full screen map
