Transition to Retail Collection in AB & MB: 2022-2024

Transitioning Small Container Collection from Municipal to Retail Sites

Alberta & Manitoba – 2022 to 2024

Between 2022 and 2024, the <23L container collection program will undergo a gradual change that will align it with other provinces, enabling farmers to bring back these containers to their local retail outlets.

The change is being phased in gradually to reduce the burden on retail and municipal services, and to increase convenience for farmers who can now bring the containers back to the retail outlets that they frequent.

Thank you!

We’d like to thank all municipal collection partners who have provided such excellent services to the program over many years, as well as our retail collection partners who are adding this new element to their services, and growers in both provinces for continuing to do your part to ensure that these containers can be recycled into new products and packaging!

Information on this page

This page provides all the information that you’ll need to know as the changes take effect. It’s split into the three tabs below. Please click the tab that most meets your needs.

In addition, please see June 2022 news releases with details about this program, for Alberta and Manitoba.

Additional questions?

If we’ve missed something, please be sure to let us know, with an email to Manager, Sustainability and Performance, Cori Crawford.

Pesticide-Fertilize-Container-Recycling-Bagged-Jugs-Truck

Growers

Across Canada, farmers return used ag items like jugs to ag-retailers. This streamlines the process and brings it into alignment with other provinces. It simplifies the program since your ag retailer may already be accepting Cleanfarms materials and it makes it easier for your municipality since they won’t need to look after extra items. Most of all, when you’re thinking about which materials you want to bundle up to recycle, you know they’re all going to the same place: your local ag retailer.

How does this work for growers?

Rinse & remove
- Use chemical handler/ triple rinse/ pressure rinse
- Remove paper booklets, and discard
Fill bag & close
- Place rinsed containers in bag and securely close
- Only one material type per bag (i.e., jugs)
Seed treatment containers
- Caps are to remain securely ON
- Place in a separate collection bag (note – this is preferred for collection at municipal sites and required at retail sites and it make it easier for storage and transportation)
Return for recycling. Check with your retailer to see when you can begin returning to retail

How do you know where to bring your jugs?

Please ask your local retailer if they have begun accepting jugs as many are participating in the program before municipal sites are phasing out. 2023 is the year where Manitoba and Alberta farmers will see the most change and we’ll announce it with ads in local newspapers, on radio, social media and with posters at your ag retailer. Also, municipal sites that are no longer receiving materials will post signs long before they close.

Collection Site Transition Dates

Questions?

Do you have questions? We’d always like to hear from you. Please email our Cleanfarms Manager, Sustainability and Performance Cori Crawford.

Thank you for recycling with Cleanfarms!

Retailers

Municipal site transition will be conducted in phases that take place between 2022 and 2024. The transition site map contains the details of estimated site closure dates. You can use the + button to zoom in to your location then check the pin color below the map.

If you live in zones of either province in which municipal sites are scheduled for closure in 2022, you will be contacted by a Cleanfarms representative to discuss your options for adding container collection to your current program.

Despite the planned timing, any retailer in Manitoba or Alberta is welcome to incorporate collections of empty <23L containers in your collection program this year. Please email info@cleanfarms.ca to confirm your participation so we can be sure to add your site to this year’s collection map!

This would mean designating a collection location (preferably, but not necessarily indoors) where you can store incoming Cleanfarms ag collection bags that are full of empty, triple-rinsed containers.

How this works for retailers:

Receive rolls of collection bags in the Spring. Collection bags can be reordered through:
- Their distributor when ordering crop inputs
- Cleanfarms’ online pickup request system
Provide bag to grower at point of sale when product is picked up or delivered (1 bag for every ~ 45 pesticide & fertilizer jugs)
Growers prepare & return containers
When you receive 10 bags of containers, please sign into the online system to let us know that you’d like a pickup (as you do for non-deposit bulk containers and/or empty seed, pesticide and inoculant bags). We’ll send a contractor to collect your load within 10 days of receiving your request.

Retailers across Alberta and Manitoba have demonstrated support for this transition and we look forward to working with all retailers in these provinces to ensure your customers continue to have access to this important recycling program. And, if you have questions at any time, please email Cleanfarms Operations Analyst, Cori Crawford.

Thank you for your contribution to the Cleanfarms program!

Tools & Resources

Cleanfarms has tools and resources that you can customize and share to help communicate these changes.

Resources for your staff (not to be shared externally):

Sign up to request March 2022 webinar replay
View March 2022 Webinar slides

Municipalities

For many years, Alberta and Manitoba municipalities have provided sites at municipal transfer stations and landfills for farmers to drop off empty, triple-rinsed, <23 L ag containers for collection and recycling by Cleanfarms.

Between 2022 and December 31, 2024, this responsibility will transition from municipalities to local ag-retailers, in a gradual and phased process that will begin with sites that have recently received least materials, to those that have received the most.

Cleanfarms will be in touch with municipal sites to let you know long before it’s time for you to start thinking about discontinuing collections and we’ll work with you to facilitate the process. The planned schedule is as follows:

Sites that have recently received no <23L ag jugs discontinued collection in May, 2022
Sites that have received up to 5,000 lb/year of <23L ag jugs discontinued collection as of December 31, 2022
Sites that have received 5,001 to 20,000 lb/year of 23L ag jugs discontinue collection as of December 31 2023
Sites that have received 20,001 lb/year+ of 23L ag jugs discontinue collection as of December 31 2024.

Container Collection Site Transition Dates

We understand that some sites will have containers past your final collection; if that happens, please let us know and the Cleanfarms team will look after them.

How this will work for municipalities:

1. Cleanfarms will contact each site with estimated closure date
2. Receive rolls of collection bags & provide bag to grower/ ratepayer as applicable
3. Growers prepare & return containers
4. Municipalities to contact Cleanfarms for pickup

Cleanfarms support

Cleanfarms is providing signage for all sites indicating when each site will close. Sites were provided signs denoting their planned closure date. If you have not received yours, please email info@cleanfarms.ca so we can get one to you.

We’re taking other steps to communicate the transition widely so there are no surprises for farmers, including:

advertising in local newspapers and radio (where available)
providing updates at cleanfarms.ca
offering newsletter/social media copy for municipal use re: the transition (see below)
providing info for farmers via the promotion & education kit that’s available at ag retailers
posting updates on social media
responding to enquiries to our email and phone hotline

Questions?

You may have questions. Please email Cleanfarms Operations Analyst Cori Crawford.

Thank you for your contribution to the Cleanfarms program!

Tools & Resources

Cleanfarms has tools and resources to help you communicate these changes with residents.

Information to share with your staff includes: