All About Bale Wrap and Silage Plastic Recycling
One issue with any recycling program is densifying the product, in this case, bale wrap and silage plastic, enough to efficiently transport it to an end market.
Generally, plastics that are collected loose take up a large amount of space, are time consuming and difficult to handle with equipment, and they weigh very little, which is inefficient for transportation to a recycling facility.
To quickly and inexpensively densify these plastics for storage, handling, and transport, Cleanfarms is testing the use of a manual compacting system, which was designed and manufactured by Full Circle Plastics of Nobleford, Alberta.
How to access a manual compactor:
- Compactors are currently available year-round for public use during regular operating hours in several municipalities across Alberta (see the AB map and contact details).
- Some municipalities offer mobile compactors that can be delivered directly to farm. Contact your participating municipality and agricultural department for availability.
- Some compactors are available for free on-farm use. Contact Cleanfarms’ Alberta Program Advisor, Davin Johnson – johnsond@cleanfarms.ca or 403‑942‑6012 to inquire about obtaining a manual compactor for your operation.
Want to build your own compactor? View material/cut list and design drawings.
For additional details about this program or to express interest in receiving a compactor for your operation, contact:
Davin Johnson, Alberta Program Advisor
403-942-6012 | johnsond@cleanfarms.ca
What to Put In & What to Keep Out of a Compactor
| What’s In | What’s Out |
|---|---|
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NOTE: Do not co-mingle silage plastic and bale wrap in the same compactor, this will make the bale unrecyclable. Each plastic type goes to a separate recycling facility and so they need to be baled separately to be recycled. If your operation uses both silage plastic and bale wrap, please bale the material separately. If you have any questions or are unsure, please email info@cleanfarms.ca
FAQs
Are there locations not listed on this page that are collecting bale wrap and silage plastic 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. Contact your local agricultural fieldman, county/municipal district representative, or waste commission to inquire if they accept these materials for recycling.
What happens to the bale wrap and silage plastic that is collected?
Both bale wrap and silage plastic are transported to recycling facilities where they are shredded, washed, and then converted into plastic pellets. The pellets are then used in the manufacturing of new plastic products such as plastic bags, plastic dimensional lumber, or plastic agricultural fence posts.
Bale wrap is currently sent to a recycler in Quebec, while silage plastic is sent to a recycler in AB or the USA.
What about recycling grain bags and twine?
There is a separate program to collect grain bags and twine in Alberta. Please visit the grain bags and twine webpage for details on preparation requirements and collection site locations.
How do I recycle my other agricultural plastics?
Depending on the type of ag plastic, it may be collected at your municipal waste transfer site, landfill, or ag-retailer to then ship to recycling markets. For further information, please visit our Alberta Programs & Events page and click on the image of the material you wish to recycle. If the material you are trying to recycle is not listed, please contact our general information line at info@cleanfarms.ca for recycling options in your area.
Why use a compactor?
Generally, plastics that are collected loose take up a large amount of space, are time consuming and difficult to handle with equipment, and they weigh very little, which is inefficient for transportation to a recycling facility.
How can I get a manual compactor for my farming operation?
Call Cleanfarms’ Alberta Program Advisor (Davin Johnson) at 403.942.6012 to learn more.
How can my region get involved?
Call Cleanfarms’ Alberta Program Advisor (Davin Johnson) at 403.942.6012 to learn more.
How to use a manual compactor
Watch this video to learn more about how these compactors can help compress ag plastics, reduce contamination and facilitate transportation to collection sites.
How to Prepare Bale Wrap and Silage Plastic for Compacting
Silage Plastic
Follow these 4 steps to prepare your used silage plastic for compression/baling:
- Shake – Remove debris; to prevent damage to the recyclers shredding and wash systems, silage plastic needs to be free from spoilage, large pieces of dirt/rocks, or other debris. Shake the plastic as you lay it flat.
- Fold into 4’ lengths – To ensure a dense bale of plastic, lumps/gap/voids need to be avoided when loading the compactor. Fold the flat sheet of plastic into lengths that are roughly 4′ wide.
- Fold into 4’ squares– Fold the 4’ lengths into 4’ squares to fill the base of the compactor evenly.
- Return – Bring the folded sheets to one of the collection sites and lay them flat in a manual compactor (transfer station attendants will be onsite to assist and provide direction).
Bale Wrap
Follow these 4 steps to prepare your used bale wrap for compression/baling:
- Cut – If needed, cut the bale wrap into manageable pieces (especially if using continuous wrapped bales).
- Shake – Remove debris; to prevent damage to the recyclers shredding and wash systems, bale wrap needs to be free from spoilage, large pieces of dirt/rocks, or other debris. Shake the plastic to remove large pieces of debris.
- Fold – It is not necessary, but for ease of transport and loading into a manual compactor, you may want to fold the plastic into manageable 4′ square pieces, similar to the preparation of silage plastic.
- Return – Bring your loose or folded bale wrap to one of the collection sites and try to lay the pieces evenly across the base of a manual compactor (transfer station attendants will be onsite to assist and provide direction). By spreading the plastic more evenly across the base of the compactor, you will help to ensure a dense bale of plastic, which improves recyclability.
Note: This work is separate from the ‘Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It!’ program to collect and recycle grain bags and twine, which is led by the multi-stakeholder Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group, with funds granted by the Government of Alberta and administered by Alberta Beef Producers.
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.
