Pilot project for the recovery of agricultural plastics in the Haut-Saint-Laurent 

In 2021, all farmers in the Haut-Saint-Laurent who generate waste plastics such as hay and silage bale wrap, twine and rope, nets, tarps, and silage bags are invited to participate in an agricultural plastic recovery pilot project.

As of June 15, three collection sites will be available to Haut-Saint-Laurent producers:

• Saint-Anicet municipal garage, located at 5001 Route 132, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m;
• UNIAG Sainte-Martine, located at 195 Sainte-Marie Street, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m;
• Hinchinbrooke municipal garage, located at 315 Route 202; A collection day will be held at this site every second Wednesday of the month between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

As part of another pilot project, producers in Très-Saint-Sacrement are invited to use the collection site at the Très-Saint-Sacrement municipal garage, located at 1539, chemin de Fertile Creek.

Producers can store their waste plastics in specially designed AgriRÉCUP bags on the farm before bringing filled bags to the collection sites. The AgriRÉCUP bags are available at the collection sites.

Please call ahead before arriving at collection sites. Contact information for the different collection sites is available in the information brochure (in the "To consult" section below).

The use of an agricultural plastics press prototype will be tested with several Haut-Saint-Laurent producers on the farm. This type of press, which produces compressed bales of up to 450 kilograms, has already been tested by AgriRÉCUP. Once pressed, the bales must be transported to one of the three collection sites.

Producers interested in learning more about the press or how to purchase one can contact AgriRÉCUP at info@agrirécup.ca.

HOW IT WORKS

Plastics must be dry and shaken to remove as much debris as possible before being stored in AgriRÉCUP bags or compressed.

As of June 15, 2021, recovery at collection sites will take place in the following manner:

• AgriRÉCUP bags are available to farmers at all three collection sites mentioned above. Plastics must be sorted and bagged according to the following four categories: 1) silage bale wrap, 2) tarps and silage bags, 3) twine and rope, and 4) netting.
• For farmers using the on-farm press, plastics must be sorted and baled separately according to two categories: 1) silage bale wrap, and 2) silage tarps and bags. AgriRECUP bags will be available at the collection sites for the other types of plastics, i.e. twine and rope (separate bag) and netting (separate bag).
• Once the bags are full or plastics have been pressed into bales, they must be securely tied with a rope before being brought back to one of the three collection sites.

Important: It is very important not to mix the four different categories of plastics, i.e. hay and silage bale wrap, tarps and silage bags, twine and rope, and netting, in order to comply with the requirements of the recyclers and partner organizations. Bulk plastics will be accepted at collection sites.

A SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIP

This initiative responds to a need on the part of agricultural producers to better manage their waste plastics. It stems from a desire on the part of the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent and the Haut-Saint-Laurent syndicate of the UPA to find alternatives to landfilling these materials, as well as AgriRÉCUP's dedication to the establishment of a long-term viable method for recovering agricultural plastics.

The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent signed a partnership agreement with AgriRÉCUP to carry out a pilot project aimed at evaluating different methods of collecting waste agricultural plastics that would expand on existing knowledge about plastics management and marketing opportunities. The municipalities of Saint-Anicet and Hinchinbrooke, as well as the UNIAG Cooperative Sainte-Martine, are also partnering with the pilot project by providing farmers in the Haut-Saint-Laurent region with locations where bagged plastics and compressed bales can be deposited.

About AgriRÉCUP: AgriRÉCUP is a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental responsibility since 1989 through the sound management of inorganic agricultural waste. Several AgriRÉCUP programs are currently being offered across Canada. To learn more about AgriRÉCUP and its other collection programs, visit: https://cleanfarms.ca/.