MONROE - Wisconsin dairy and livestock farms have been using silo bags, bunkers and wrapped bales at a dramatically increased rate over the past decade.
These tools rely on low-density polyethylene, a plastic film that provides a low-cost method for storing high-quality forages. It is estimated that more than 55 million pounds of LDPE thermoplastic is sold annually to Wisconsin farmers. Ag plastics are increasingly popular, making their disposal an issue on many farms.
A statewide survey conducted in 2015 by University of Wisconsin-Extension and the Wisconsin DNR reported that about two-thirds of farmers use landfills for disposing of their used ag plastic. The second most common method of disposal is burning, at 30 percent, with 10 percent of respondents reporting they recycle the plastic. More than 1,500 farms and greenhouses around Wisconsin participated in the survey.
Burning ag plastic is illegal and releases toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that contaminate the air, soil and groundwater, entering the human food chain through crops and livestock. Unburned portions of plastic litter the ground, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
The survey indicates that 85 percent of farmers are willing to haul their plastic to a collection site for recycling. Past ag plastic collection programs in Green County confirmed that many farmers will drive up to 30 miles to recycle their plastic if there is no disposal charge. Green County farmers have a lot of used ag plastic on their lands, and most prefer to see it recycled versus burning it or paying up to $1,500 per year to dispose of it in landfills.
The major challenge that prevents farmers from recycling ag plastic is transporting it from the farm to a collection facility. In 2014, Green County offered spring and fall collections during which farmers could dispose of the plastic free of charge by hauling it to a local landfill. Over the past two years, the county has collected more than 650,000 pounds of used ag plastic and now accepts this type of waste every Wednesday from area farmers willing to haul it to the collection facility.
Green County accepts only No. 4 plastic from silo bags, bunker covers, greenhouse covers, drip tape and bale wraps. Plastic twine, mesh bale wraps, plastic jugs, bunker covers with scrim nylon and all other types of plastic containers are not recyclable through this program. Green County's landfill department bales the used Ag plastic into one-ton parcels and sends them to a facility in Arkansas, where the material is cleaned, processed and recycled.
Now a more effective option for disposal is being presented. Mark Mayer, Green County's UW-Extension agriculture agent, worked on a pilot program with Revolution Plastics in 2015 to place free dumpsters on 88 farms in Wisconsin and Illinois specifically for storing these types of plastic until the program picked it up for free. Due to the pilot's success in Green County, Revolution Plastics is expanding the program to several hundred more farmers in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa in 2016.
This program is a win for everyone. It will enable farmers to dispose of their used ag plastic at no cost and reduce the amount of plastic going to landfills and being illegally burned, while recycling the unwanted material into new products.
The number of cows and farm size are no longer a limiting factor to participate in the program. If a farm generates enough ag plastic film to fill an eight-cubic yard dumpster every six weeks, they will qualify for the program. Using both silage bags and bales wraps, herds as small as 60 milk cows easily can meet this criterion.
The final opportunity to secure a free dumpster for Green County area farms will occur in late July. Revolution Plastics will make its final delivery of free dumpsters to area farmers from 8 a.m. to noon July 25. The dumpsters will be distributed from a lot at 207 17th St. in Brodhead. Farmers willing to pick up their dumpsters will be given first priority on this last shipment, but delivery of the dumpsters to farms is available if needed. Only No. 4 ag plastic from silo bags, bunker covers, bale wraps from farms can be accepted through this program.
Farmers interested in enrolling in the program can call Revolution Plastics toll-free at 844-490-7873 or register online at www.revolutionplastics.com before July 25. Contact Mayer for more information at 608-328-9440 or mark.mayer@ces.uwex.edu.
These tools rely on low-density polyethylene, a plastic film that provides a low-cost method for storing high-quality forages. It is estimated that more than 55 million pounds of LDPE thermoplastic is sold annually to Wisconsin farmers. Ag plastics are increasingly popular, making their disposal an issue on many farms.
A statewide survey conducted in 2015 by University of Wisconsin-Extension and the Wisconsin DNR reported that about two-thirds of farmers use landfills for disposing of their used ag plastic. The second most common method of disposal is burning, at 30 percent, with 10 percent of respondents reporting they recycle the plastic. More than 1,500 farms and greenhouses around Wisconsin participated in the survey.
Burning ag plastic is illegal and releases toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that contaminate the air, soil and groundwater, entering the human food chain through crops and livestock. Unburned portions of plastic litter the ground, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
The survey indicates that 85 percent of farmers are willing to haul their plastic to a collection site for recycling. Past ag plastic collection programs in Green County confirmed that many farmers will drive up to 30 miles to recycle their plastic if there is no disposal charge. Green County farmers have a lot of used ag plastic on their lands, and most prefer to see it recycled versus burning it or paying up to $1,500 per year to dispose of it in landfills.
The major challenge that prevents farmers from recycling ag plastic is transporting it from the farm to a collection facility. In 2014, Green County offered spring and fall collections during which farmers could dispose of the plastic free of charge by hauling it to a local landfill. Over the past two years, the county has collected more than 650,000 pounds of used ag plastic and now accepts this type of waste every Wednesday from area farmers willing to haul it to the collection facility.
Green County accepts only No. 4 plastic from silo bags, bunker covers, greenhouse covers, drip tape and bale wraps. Plastic twine, mesh bale wraps, plastic jugs, bunker covers with scrim nylon and all other types of plastic containers are not recyclable through this program. Green County's landfill department bales the used Ag plastic into one-ton parcels and sends them to a facility in Arkansas, where the material is cleaned, processed and recycled.
Now a more effective option for disposal is being presented. Mark Mayer, Green County's UW-Extension agriculture agent, worked on a pilot program with Revolution Plastics in 2015 to place free dumpsters on 88 farms in Wisconsin and Illinois specifically for storing these types of plastic until the program picked it up for free. Due to the pilot's success in Green County, Revolution Plastics is expanding the program to several hundred more farmers in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa in 2016.
This program is a win for everyone. It will enable farmers to dispose of their used ag plastic at no cost and reduce the amount of plastic going to landfills and being illegally burned, while recycling the unwanted material into new products.
The number of cows and farm size are no longer a limiting factor to participate in the program. If a farm generates enough ag plastic film to fill an eight-cubic yard dumpster every six weeks, they will qualify for the program. Using both silage bags and bales wraps, herds as small as 60 milk cows easily can meet this criterion.
The final opportunity to secure a free dumpster for Green County area farms will occur in late July. Revolution Plastics will make its final delivery of free dumpsters to area farmers from 8 a.m. to noon July 25. The dumpsters will be distributed from a lot at 207 17th St. in Brodhead. Farmers willing to pick up their dumpsters will be given first priority on this last shipment, but delivery of the dumpsters to farms is available if needed. Only No. 4 ag plastic from silo bags, bunker covers, bale wraps from farms can be accepted through this program.
Farmers interested in enrolling in the program can call Revolution Plastics toll-free at 844-490-7873 or register online at www.revolutionplastics.com before July 25. Contact Mayer for more information at 608-328-9440 or mark.mayer@ces.uwex.edu.