Cleanfarms can help you meet your obligations
Businesses that supply grain bags or baler twine into Manitoba, can meet their obligations under The Regulation in two ways:
- operate their own government approved program, or
- subscribe to a government approved program, i.e. enter into an agreement with an organization like Cleanfarms that has developed an approved program to meet the requirements of The Regulation.
Meeting your obligations by subscribing to Cleanfarms’ government approved program is the most efficient way to meet these regulatory requirements.
To subscribe to Cleanfarms’ approved program:
- Confirm that your business is obligated by Manitoba’s Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation. Review the FAQs on this page.
- What’s next? – Call us at 877-622-4460 ext. 2229.
Suppliers, known in The Regulation as ‘stewards of designated material’ that wish to meet their obligation through Cleanfarms must register and adhere to financial and administrative obligations. Please see our membership agreement.
How does Cleanfarms’ Government Approved Program Work?
Similar to the program that has been available in Saskatchewan since 2018, Cleanfarms operates it’s government approved recycling program on behalf of grain bag and baler twine suppliers. This means that Cleanfarms manages all operations/logistics, government reporting, administration, and promotions/education.
- Suppliers must register with Cleanfarms to become a member and are required to finance the program costs.
- Similar to programs for electronics or oil, this program is funded by a non-refundable Environmental Handling Fee (EHF). The EHF on grain bags is estimated at $0.225/kilogram. The EHF on baler twine is estimated at $0.33/kilogram.
- The EHF is applied as a visible fee at the point of purchase starting December 1, 2021
- Suppliers remit the EHF to Cleanfarms.
Key References
FAQs
Which Act and Regulation applies to the supply of grain bags and twine (and other ag plastics)?
The Waste Reduction and Prevention (WRAP) Act enables the Minister of Conservation and Climate to designate materials with the potential to become waste and develop regulatory requirements that support the reduction and prevention of waste in the province.
A number of Regulations established under WRAP have led to the development of recycling programs for items like tires, oil and packaging and printed paper.
Manitoba’s Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation applies to a variety of paper, plastics and packaging-like products. This includes a variety of ag plastics like grain bags, baler twine, silage/bale wrap and netting.
How do ag plastics like grain bags and baler twine fit into Manitoba’s Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation
In short, packaging, including ag plastics, falls under the Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation.
The Regulation uses the term ‘designated material’ to mean a material that is impacted by the Regulation.
Section 1:
“designated material” means a material designated in Section 2.
Section 2:
The following are designated as designated material for the purposes of the Act:
(a) packaging, but not including containers for which a refundable deposit is payable when the goods are supplied at retail and the packaging of those containers; (b) printed paper.
Does The Regulation only apply to the supply of grain bags and baler twine in Manitoba? What about the supply of other ag plastics (e.g. bale/silage wrap, net wrap)?
All ag plastics like grain bags, baler twine, silage/bale wrap or net wrap fall under the definition of packaging or designated materials.
However, a government approved program plan only exists for grain bags and baler twine.
This means that Section 3 of The Regulation (which prohibits a steward from supplying designated material in the course of business unless the steward either operates or subscribes to an approved packaging and printed paper stewardship program) applies to the supply of grain bags and baler twine.
A government-approved program plan does not exist for silage/bale wrap or net wrap. Therefore, Section 3 of The Regulation does not apply to the supply of silage/bale wrap or net wrap.
Who or what types of companies/persons are obligated under The Regulation?
‘Steward of designated material’ is a term used in Manitoba’s Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation.
“steward of designated material” means
(a) the first person who, in the course of business or a prescribed activity in Manitoba, supplies a designated material to another person; or
(b) a person who, in the course of business or a prescribed activity in Manitoba, uses a designated material obtained in a supply transaction outside of Manitoba.
In short, a ‘steward of designated material’ is a company or person that supplies grain bags or twine into Manitoba. This could be a manufacturer, distributor, retailer, farm supply dealer, or other businesses.
Cleanfarms uses the term ‘Steward/First Seller’ as a short form for ‘steward of designated material.’ (The term ‘First Seller’ is used in a similar Regulation in Saskatchewan. Many grain bag suppliers do business in both provinces, so the terminology has been combined.)
Where does it state that companies supplying grain bags and baler twine face regulatory obligations or have to ‘operate or subscribe to’ a packaging and printed paper stewardship program?
Manitoba’s Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation: is written in a way where stewards/suppliers of ‘designated materials’ are obligated to operate or subscribe to a packaging and printed paper stewardship program (Program) if a Program is in place for the ‘designated materials’ in question.
Section 3 from the Regulation reads:
3(1) No person shall supply designated material for consumption unless
(a) the steward of the designated material operates or subscribes to a packaging and printed paper stewardship program; or
(b) the person operates or subscribes to a packaging and printed paper stewardship program
3(2) No person shall in the course of business use in Manitoba designated material obtained in a supply transaction outside of Manitoba unless the person operates or subscribes to a packaging and printed paper stewardship program.
A Program is now in effect for grain bags and baler twine (which are designated materials – see previous FAQ). This means that a steward of designated materials is prohibited from supplying grain bags and baler twine unless they operate or subscribe to a Program.
I’m a farm supply dealer. Can my distributor take on the obligations on my behalf?
Yes. The company you are purchasing grain bags and/or baler twine from can take on the required obligations on your behalf.
Call (877-622-4460 ext. 2229) or email us to discuss your situation.
What is a packaging and printed paper stewardship program?
A “packaging and printed paper stewardship program” is the term used in Manitoba’s Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation to refer to a recycling/stewardship program that has been approved by Manitoba’s government.
Section 1:
“packaging and printed paper stewardship program” means a waste reduction and prevention program for waste packaging and printed paper approved under section 6.
How do I know that Cleanfarms’ grain bag and baler twine program is an approved ‘packaging and printed paper stewardship program’?
Learn more about Manitoba’s approved stewardship program plans.
When does the EHF start?
The EHF started on December 1, 2021.
Why is there an EHF on these materials?
The non-refundable EHF funds the recycling of grain bags or baler twine purchased in Manitoba.
I’m registered with Cleanfarms to meet my obligations in Saskatchewan. I also supply grain bags and/or twine into Manitoba? What do I do next?
Many of Cleanfarms’ members do business in multiple jurisdictions, so this program (for Manitoba) was designed to be harmonized with Saskatchewan’s grain bag recycling program. The same policies and schedule related to reporting will apply.
If you are a member in good standing then no additional paperwork or registration is necessary.
Contact Cleanfarms to ensure that you have dealer education tools to keep your Manitoba dealer network informed about these changes.
I’m not sure if I need to register with Cleanfarms. I buy grain bags and/or baler twine from Company UVW and resell them.
The following companies have already signed up with Cleanfarms:
- Agri Novatex Canada Ltd. (formerly Committed Ag)
- Amity Ag Solutions
- Berry Global
- Bridon USA
- Canadian Tarpaulin Manufacturers Ltd.
- Federated Co-operatives Limited
- FLAMAN Group of Companies
- Kingdom Advance Group
- Neeralta Manufacturing Inc.
- Peavey Industries LP
- Redhead Equipment
- RS Agri-Trade
- Steads Farm Supply
- Tama Canada Ltd.
- Thunderstruck Ag Equipment
- Veikle Agro Inc.
- Windrow Baling Products Ltd.
If you purchase your grain bags or baler twine through the companies listed above, the company has taken on these responsibilities (registering, reporting, remitting) on your behalf.
If you would prefer to take on these responsibilities, contact us to learn how you can be accommodated.
How will a first seller/supplier remit this fee to Cleanfarms?
Reporting and remittance will take place quarterly.
- Rules related to reporting (2023)
I’m a farm supply dealer and I have carry-over inventory from 2021. This means that my supplier did not apply the EHF to this product. What should I do?
This sometimes occurs the first year a program is launched. Cleanfarms has a one-time remitter process/policy for these types of situations. Contact Cleanfarms to learn more.
The EHF for baler twine looks a bit off. Why doesn’t it line up exactly with the weight of the size/strength of twine that I’m using/distributing?
The EHFs for each size category (e.g., 110/28,000) are calculated based on weights generated from a broad cross section of brand owners/manufacturers, which vary. This likely accounts for this type of variation.
Environmental Handling Fee (EHF)
The non-refundable EHF finances this recycling program.
To calculate the EHF, Cleanfarms will take the total program costs and divide this by the estimated volume of grain bags and baler twine sold into Manitoba. The EHF is therefore determined on a per kilogram basis.
The EHF is subject to GST but not PST.
2023 EHF Schedule for Grain Bags
The EHF is based on the weight and is 22.5 cents per kilogram.
| Size category (feet) | EHF |
|---|---|
| 8 x 150 | $17.00 |
| 8 x 200 | $23.00 |
| 8 x 250 | $29.00 |
| 9 x 150 | $20.00 |
| 9 x 200 | $27.00 |
| 9 x 250 | $33.00 |
| 9 x 300 | $40.00 |
| 9 x 330 | $44.00 |
| 10 x 150 | $23.00 |
| 10 x 200 | $30.00 |
| 10 x 250 | $38.00 |
| 10 x 300 | $45.00 |
| 10 x 330 | $50.00 |
| 10 x 350 | $51.00 |
| Size Category (feet) | EHF |
|---|---|
| 10 x 400 | $60.00 |
| 10 x 500 | $76.00 |
| 10.5 x 300 | $49.00 |
| 10.5 x 400 | $64.00 |
| 10.5 x 500 | $80.00 |
| 12 x 250 | $46.00 |
| 12 x 300 | $55.00 |
| 12 x 400 | $71.00 |
| 12 x 500 | $93.00 |
| 14 x 500 | $107.00 |
2023 EHF Schedule for Baler Twine
The EHF is based on the weight and is 33 cents per kilogram.
Round
| Size category | EHF |
|---|---|
| 110 x 20,000 | $2.00 |
| 110 x 28,000 | $3.00 |
| 110 x 40,000 | $4.00 |
| 125 x 28,000 | $3.50 |
| 130 x 20,000 | $2.50 |
Large Square
| Size Category | EHF |
|---|---|
| 240 x 6,500 | $3.00 |
| 350 x 4,000 | $3.00 |
| 440 x 4,000 | $3.50 |
| 450 x 4,000 | $3.00 |
| 450 x 4,400 | $3.50 |
| 450 x 5,400 | $4.00 |
| 500 x 4,000 | $3.50 |
| 550 x 4,000 | $3,50 |
| 550 x 4,300 | $4.00 |
| 600 x 3,750 | $3.50 |
| 600 x 4,000 | $4.00 |
| 600 x 4,100 | $4.00 |
| 600 x 4,400 | $4.50 |
| 600 x 4,700 | $4.00 |
| 650 x 4,000 | $4.00 |
| 660 x 3,800 | $3.50 |
| 700 x 4,160 | $4.00 |
| 750 x 3,500 | $4.00 |
| 800 x 3,700 | $4.50 |
Small Square
| Size Category | EHF |
|---|---|
| 130 x 9,000 | $2.50 |
| 140 x 9,000 | $2.50 |
| 170 x 7,200 | $2.50 |
| 170 x 9,600 | $3.50 |
| 180 x 9,000 | $3.00 |
| 190 x 7,200 | $3.00 |
| 190 x 12,000 | $4.50 |
| 210 x 6,500 | $2.50 |
| 210 x 9,600 | $4.00 |
