MONROE - Green County farmers were able to dispose of low density polyethylene agriculture plastic from silo bags, wrapped bales and bunker covers during a recent collection program this fall. Area farmers brought in over 61,000 pounds of agriculture plastic to the Green County Landfill over a three-week period in November.

The goal was to collect 40,000 pounds to fill one truck to supply to the vendor who transported the plastic to their professing facility in Arkansas, where it was cleaned and re-used to manufacture trash liners and agriculture irrigation tubing.

Green County Landfill employees collected and baled the plastic into 4-foot by 6-foot by 6-foot wired tied bales weighing about 2,300 pounds each. Delta Plastics reimbursed the county for the cost of handling and baling the plastic. They also provided trucking of the plastic to their processing plant in Arkansas where they recycle over 2 million pounds of plastic annually.

The plastic collected through the program saved over 60 cubic yards of landfill space.

Another agriculture plastic collection will be held from April 6 through April 17 at the Green County Landfill and in November.

For more information, contact Mark Mayer, University of Wisconsin-Extension agriculture agent, at 608-328-9440 or mark.mayer

@ces.uwex.edu.