Sask. farmers encouraged to recycle through pilot program

Watch the video above: Saskatchewan farmers asked to recycle grain bags

SASKATOON – Saskatchewan farmers say a new grain bag recycling program is a good start but there is still a barrier preventing some from recycling.

Last year’s bumper crop had many farmers turning toward grain bags for temporary storage while waiting for railways to find capacity.

Unfortunately, once emptied they become garbage.

Bradwell area farmer Jeff Hoiness filled 28 of them – all of which have since been emptied– leaving him with a lot of plastic.

“They cannot be reused but I’m sure because they’re plastic, they can be recycled and made into something worthwhile,” said Hoiness.

As part of a provincial pilot program, Hoiness makes a 70 kilometre trek into Viscount, Sask. to drop off his left over bags at one of the province’s recycling depots.

Not all farmers are making the trip to one of the 13 collection sites across the province. Some are hours from a drop off location.

“Unfortunately a lot of farmers – their only option is burning them which is not healthy for the environment or people and it’s also illegal,” said Travis Quirk, Simply Ag Recycling coordinator.

“I understand there’s some consideration around having some more sites around the province. Once the firmer program is up and running that would be a good thing,” said Lyle Stewart, Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister.

This week, the Ministry of Agriculture announced it would spend another $100,000 to extend the current grain bag recycling pilot project through 2014. That means the permanent program with additional sites won’t be launched until 2015.

“We hope, ideally, every producer will be within half an hour from a site which means multiple more collections sites across the province,” said Quirk.

In the meantime, the hope is farmers will make the extra effort.

“There’s nothing for us besides goodwill to do it,” said Hoiness.

“I think most farmers are good stewards and they want to do what’s right for the environment cause that’s what we work in.”

Since its inception, more than 2,100 bags – or 325,800 kilograms of plastic – has been recycled along with 6,600 kilograms of twine.

Recycled plastic is used in everything from household garbage bags to plastic lumber pallets.

For more information, producers can contact Simply Agriculture Solutions Inc. at 1-866-298-7222.