Its launch was spurred by growing acceptance that historical practices of burning or burying unused agri-chemicals and empty containers were no longer acceptable.
Now, over 60 suppliers of agrichemicals, animal health and dairy hygiene products voluntarily fund Agrecovery, with manufacturers and consumers picking up the cost of a levy on all products sold.
Last month Associate Environment Minister Scott Simpson re-accredited Agrecovery's nationwide product stewardship scheme for another seven years under the Waste Minimisation Act.
Drums and containers are collected by Envirowaste Services Ltd and reprocessed into new products by Astron Plastics, such as covers for underground cables. Another potential use as damp proof course (the layer of waterproof material in the wall of a building near the ground, to prevent rising damp) is being investigated, Mr Andrew says.
"It's a closed-loop solution. It's all handled in New Zealand."
Mr Simpson noted that by providing an alternative to disposing of waste on farm, Agrecovery is preventing harmful environmental impacts associated with farm burning and burial, such as the leaching of chemicals into waterways and the escape of hazardous dioxins into the atmosphere.
"Agrecovery also collects and appropriately disposes of unwanted agrichemicals, some of which could cause significant harm to ecosystems were they to enter the food chain. In this way, the scheme also helps New Zealand meet its international environmental obligations on reducing and, where feasible, ultimately eliminating the release of dioxins."
There are notable exceptions among participating agri-chemical firms, including Agpro.
Mr Andrew says "getting all non-participating brands across the line is a big one for us".
It's tricky with Agpro in particular as that firm makes a broad range of agrichemicals and markets direct to farmers. Given that a number of waste plastic and chemical drop-off points are retailers - such as Farmlands, Wrightsons, FarmSource and Rural Co - "quite naturally Agpro don't particularly want their clients talking to [competing sellers]".
"What I will say is that we remind all of our collection sites at retail that Agrecovery is competitively neutral. If someone turns up who is a customer of a competing retailer, that's not an invitation to market to them."
By the same token, Agrecovery doesn't handle the drums and chemicals of firms that don't sign up to the stewardship scheme/pay the levy. "That would be unfair to those who do pay."
Another target for greater involvement is Fonterra.
"The likes of Miraka and Sinlait audit and give bonuses on social and environmental aspects such as recycling; if we could get Fonterra to do the same, that would be brilliant. And getting others into the programme would enable far greater participation by the dairy sector."
When farmers take product to Agrecovery for recycling, they are given a form detailing what is returned, so they have a history of all the recycling they've done. That can be useful in terms of Farm Environment Management Plans and the like, and the trend is towards domestic and international consumers demanding to see evidence of strong environmental stewardship.
Mr Andrew says the other factor in boosting participation in the scheme is the efficiency of Agrecovery's programme. They already have close to 80 drop-off points around the country, and also do on-farm collections.
"But there is plenty of room for improvement. For example, if you're a farmer in Greytown currently you have to drive to Masterton to a drop-off point. It's only open once a month and it's an hour's round trip."
Horizontal integration of waste streams is the end goal.
"When it comes to waste, farmers would prefer to deal with one person - whether it's silage wrap, paint, vet syringes, ag-chemicals, plastic. They don't want to deal with four or five companies to sort the problem. Eventually, Agrecovery wants to be that solution."
In April, in conjunction with Environment Canterbury and funded by the Ministry for the Environment, Agrecovery will trial two pop-up collection events in Matamata and Geraldine where farmers will be able to bring in a whole range of materials for recycling.
Another option being investigated is contracting rural schools to go out and recover farm plastics or hold collection events, in return for the rebate that recyclers pay Agrecovery.
"It wouldn't be huge money, but enough to buy netball uniforms, a bus shelter, some laptops - that sort of thing."
