Recycling Options Available For New Jersey Growers
April 16, 2013 New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher is encouraging all agricultural operations to recycle the plastic used in their businesses by utilizing the additional recycling options now available in New Jersey.
This year, there are expanded opportunities for New Jersey farmers to recycle their agricultural plastics, including for the first time mulch film (any color), drip irrigation tape, row covers, low tunnel film, high tunnel film, silage bags, peat moss bags, silos covers, and hay bale wraps and almost any non-container agricultural plastic including pots and trays.
“Recycling is a responsible way to dispose of agricultural plastics, saving money for the producers and reducing the amount of material that ends up in landfills,” said Secretary Fisher.
The nursery and greenhouse film recycling program, entering its 17th year, is one of the most successful programs of its kind in the nation. Since the program began in 1997, New Jersey growers have recycled more than 9.8 million pounds of used nursery and greenhouse film.
The regional collection site is located at the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex in Deerfield. Both white and clear nursery film and clear multi-season (two-year, three-year, and four-year) greenhouse covers can be recycled. Film must be free of lathing, staples and saran. Loads containing other agricultural plastics, such as bags, mulch film, shrink film, stretch film, drip irrigation or ground cover film, will be rejected at the collection sites. For details about the location, hours, fees, and other vendors who accept nursery and greenhouse film, visit the Department’s website at www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/prog/filmsites.html.
This is the 12th year for the free plastic pesticide container recycling program, which collects properly rinsed plastic pesticide containers from all categories of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection-licensed pesticide applicators and custom application businesses. Since the program was initiated in 2002, more than 404,000 pounds of pesticide containers have been recycled. Last year, more than 110,000 plastic pesticide containers were recycled through the program.
The program began April 5, with 21 collection days April through November in Hammonton, (Atlantic County), Deerfield (Cumberland County) and Woodstown, (Salem County).
State, county and municipal government agencies may participate. One core credit will be given to pesticide license holders who follow the processing steps and bring their license with them to the collection. Containers up to 55 gallons are accepted at the collection sites. Non-waxy cardboard will also be accepted and must be broken down, flattened and tied. For details about locations, hours, and the guidelines for preparing the containers for recycling, visit the Department’s web site at www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/prog/recycling.html.
Growers also can recycle their drip irrigation tape at several locations. For details about the locations, hours, and fees, visit the Department’s website at www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/prog/dirtyplastics.html.
Producers of nursery pots, plastic flats, trays, and cell packs may recycle tractor trailer loads of the material through a variety of vendors. For vendor information, visit the Department’s website at www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/prog/plasticpotvendors.html.
For the first time, there is an opportunity for New Jersey farmers to recycle almost all types of agricultural plastics at a new facility located in Atlantic County. The private firm will accept mulch film (any color), drip irrigation tape, row covers, low tunnel film, high tunnel film, silage bags, peat moss bags, silos covers, and hay bale wraps and almost any non-container agricultural plastic including pots and trays.
Vehicles used to transport the agricultural plastics to any of the collection sites for recycling are not required to be licensed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as long as the agricultural plastic is transported directly to recycling program.
To find out more about all of these recycling programs, visit the New Jersey Department of Agriculture Agricultural Recycling webpage at: www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/prog/recycling.html.
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