Approximately 62,000 tonnes of agricultural plastics are used in farming production in Canada, says a report from Cleanfarms, a national environmental stewardship organization. As Barry Friesen, executive director of the non-profit, notes, if all the materials were loaded into transfer trailers, it would create a line of about 2,800 trucks running several dozen kilometres long.
Cleanfarms’ goal, says Mr. Friesen, is to keep those plastics, like pesticide and fertilizer jugs, twine, bale and silage wrap, out of landfill. The organization, based in Etobicoke, with staff across Canada, has been developing and delivering nation-wide programs, working to eliminate waste with the support of a network of industry-sector partners.
“Our goal is to manage on-farm agricultural waste materials in the most sustainable way possible, and ultimately move to a circular economy,” says Mr. Friesen. Cleanfarms works with farmers across the country and more than 80 member companies, including manufacturers, distributors and retailers of crop protection and pest control products, fertilizers, seed, ag plastic, and equine and livestock medications.
The organization’s flagship program, collecting empty pesticide and fertilizer containers, has achieved a return rate of almost 80 per cent, says Mr. Friesen. In 2021, Cleanfarms collected more than 6.2 million empty jugs, and nearly 473,000 kilograms of empty seed, pesticide and fertilizer bags were returned. Cleanfarms also collects pesticides and livestock/equine medications for safe disposal.
In addition to partnerships with governments at all levels, says Mr. Friesen, Cleanfarms collaborates with industry groups to deliver programs. Cleanfarms collects and analyzes data to understand the evolving landscape, and designs and pilots programs that address emerging concerns and issues before they are rolled out.
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