FARMERS in south-west Victoria are being encouraged to adopt a new system for the sustainable disposal of farm plastic waste.
A new south-west advocate has been appointed for the Plasback program which coordinates with suppliers, councils and industry groups to give farmers an environmentally-friendly way of disposing of plastic rather than burying or burning the waste.
DemoDAIRY projects officer Marni Barber is the newly appointed Plasback advocate for south-west Victoria. Ms Barber will be highlighting the benefits of the system to farmers at field days, discussion groups and focus farmer meetings over the next six months and will also undertake local research as part of her new role.
She said it was estimated between 150,000 and 200,000 tons of plastics go onto farms in Australia every year but less than 3 per cent is recycled.
The Plasback program has a focus on silage wrap, silage pit covers and baling twine.
Ms Barber, one of three new Plasback advocates appointed in Victoria, said the system had benefits for farmers, councils and the environment. “Plasback will provide a long-term, low-cost solution for farmers and councils for the disposal of this waste. It will minimise plastic waste to landfill, minimise environmental damage, ensure these valuable products are recycled and make their use sustainable into the future,” she said.
Plasback is a program initiated by Tapex, Australia’s leading supplier of crop protection plastics to the agricultural sector.
Under the system farmers bag unwanted plastics into Plasback liners and drop them at council transfer stations. Plasback liners, which are coloured for a specific plastic waste stream, can be purchased through Murray Goulburn Trading for $79.95 for a box on 25 which will recycle the wrap off more than 400 round bales of silage.
Environmental manager for Tapex Pty Ltd Ed George said the system was changing existing unsustainable disposal practises by giving farmers a cost effective, viable alternative for recycling. Plasback is working with 27 regional councils in Victoria.
Ms Barber said a Plasback recycling display had been established at DemoDAIRY at Terang and she would be conducting a survey about local farmers’ use of plastic over the next few months.
“I will be collecting sample data on the scale and current methods of disposal of farm plastic waste and hope to encourage the farming community to introduce the Plasback system to improve their on-farm environmental performance,” she said.
The advocacy project was funded by a grant from the Sustainability Covenant partnership between the Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA) and EPA Victoria.
To find out how and where to recycle plastic go to www.plasback.com.au or contact Ms Barber on 0438314619.
Tapex is also sponsoring a new sustainability award with AFIA in 2011.
The annual Plasback Sustainable Farming Award will provide a $5000 prize, in cash and product, to the most outstanding example of sustainable practice on farm. For entry details, businesses should go to www.plasback.com.au.
The annual award will be decided by an independent panel of judges and awarded at the AFIA conference.
