Free recycling supported by suppliers

Farmers throughout the country are actively participating in recycling.

Recycling of plastic containers is becoming second nature for Kiwi farmers and growers

Nine straight years of growth for Agrecovery rural recycling shows farmers and growers across the country are increasing their sustainable recycling practices.

Results for the year ending June 2015 stand at 15,495kg of unwanted chemicals and 240,732kg of recycled plastic packaging collected, reflecting a 50 per cent jump in container recycling over a two-year period.

Anders Crofoot, the Federated Farmers trustee on the Agrecovery Foundation, says it's been a year of milestones for Agrecovery.

"We exceeded 1 million kg of container plastic recycled since our 2007 launch and we now have over 10,000 farmer and grower members. Plus, earlier this year we launched our on-farm collection service for large drums and IBCs."

The new large drum service is proving very popular with farmers, while also being the catalyst for well-known hygiene and teat-care brand FIL to join the programme in February.

With FIL joining, Agrecovery is now supported by 63 participating brand owners who voluntarily pay a levy on their product sales into the New Zealand market.

This enables farmers to access nationwide recycling services for free.

The industry-good programme is New Zealand's solution to the disposal of unwanted agrichemicals and recycling of empty plastic packaging.

All plastic is recycled in New Zealand, while chemicals are treated for safe disposal in New Zealand and overseas.

As well as having a trustee on the Foundation, Federated Farmers provides business management services and proactively works to support the programme and improve services to farmers.

* Special offer: Federated Farmers members who join Agrecovery before the end of October receive an Agrecovery cap. Register online at www.agrecovery.co.nz or call 0800 AGRECOVERY (247 326). Membership is free.

* Simon Andrew is a Federated Farmers Agrecovery business manager

FAST FACTS

In the 12 months to June 30, 2015:

* Six chemical collections were held in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Greater Wellington, Marlborough and Canterbury, collecting 15,495kg of unwanted/expired chemicals. Visit www.agrecovery.co.nz to see upcoming collections.

* 240,732kg of container and drum plastic was collected for recycling. The amount of energy saved when using this volume of recycled plastic versus making new plastic equates to 452,000 litres of petrol.