Agrecovery steps up efforts

• Published date: 04 November 2021
• Publication title: Te Puke Times

Recycling of bags made from low density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic is underway in Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay ahead of a nationwide rollout — following successful trials held in the regions last year.

Agrecovery’s operations adviser Felicity Mitchell says the success of the trials and the enthusiasm of farmers and growers are behind the move to a permanent solution for the bags, which are used for fertiliser and fungicides.

“Our focus is now on finding other sites around the country for collecting the plastic and engaging more manufacturers to support the programme,” she says.

“LDPE is a low-quality plastic, making it more difficult to recycle, but we don’t want it being burnt or buried on farms. We’re passionate about finding the most sustainable solution for all the products we collect.”

After 15 years of offering container and drum recycling, the not-for-profit organisation is partnering with agricultural manufacturers to clear more plastic from farms.

“We’re extremely proud to have BASF and Yara, who have supported HDPE recycling with us for many years, come on the soft plastic journey with us,” says Agrecovery chief executive Tony Wilson.

Fenton Hazelwood, BASF’s national commercial manager and country manager New Zealand, added: “We’ve been working with Agrecovery on recycling solutions for BASF product packaging for over 10 years and we’re thrilled to now include our Kumulus DF and Polygram DF bags in the recycling scheme.

“It is important that we all play a role in creating a sustainable future and through this partnership with Agrecovery, we’re proud to make it easier for farmers to have a positive impact on the environment.”

Yara has supported Agrecovery’s HDPE recycling scheme since its inception and, with BASF, has helped initiate the scheme. The company’s mission is to “responsibly feed the world and protect the planet,” says agronomy and crop solutions manager David Spencer, “so, when we had...