| Giant Marshmallows: What’s To Be Done With Used Plastic? |
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Seen them? The giant white plastic marshmallows and sausages along the edges of farm fields are actually not somebody’s idea of a practical joke. These field formations serve a much needed purpose; storing hay or corn feed. But what about the picturesque silos used since time immemorial to store grains? The down side of silos is that they are difficult to maintain artifacts and a major source of farm injuries, respiratory diseases and even deaths.
In the last few decades, plastics have come to be used in more and more sectors of agriculture, just as in nearly every other industry. One of the popular varieties these days is plastic film. This shrink-wrap like plastic is typically used in bailing and mulching. There are also more rigid plastics for purposes like irrigation and potting. Because these products are cheaper or more effective than alternative measures, plastics can increase farm efficiency dramatically. The big problem with plastics, though, is what’s to be done with the tons of used stuff. Reuse? Farmers have effectively reused larger sheets and containers once or twice. But these plastic are most useful in an undamaged form; sun light and farm machinery really take a toll. Recycle? The environmentally conscientious consumer from either farm or city is well versed in the need to recycle containers of all kinds. It’s easy; use it, rinse it out and recycle. Not so easy for agricultural plastics. Firstly, these plastics are of a different grade (mainly low density polyethylene #4 and high density polyethylene #2 for those in the know), so recycling them requires different and costly equipment rarely available at recycling facilities in Vermont. Also, there’s currently not much of a market for the recycled end products of these types of plastic… though there could be (business savvy folks; here’s a hot green company project!). Now for the nitty-gritty; used agricultural plastics are often covered with dirt and rotten feed. A little tougher to rinse out than a juice bottle! Imagine the folks at the recycle plant receiving a load of rotten-mud-plastic to recycle. Waste management facilities will turn away such loads at the gate for good reason; their recycle equipment cannot deal with the ‘extra’ ingredients and they simply can’t launder all that material themselves. What, then, are a farmer’s real-world alternatives for dealing with used plastics? Burning or burying. Burning plastic… that black smoke doesn’t just look awful; it’s full of noxious stuff like bits and pieces of half burned plastic and poisons. Why? Burning plastic in open pits doesn’t build up enough heat to do the job right. Some of the toxins released from this incomplete process have been linked to heart disease, neurological disorders, motor disabilities and cancer. And that’s the main reason why open burning of wastes is illegal in Vermont. Dumping or burying all that ag plastic isn’t the answer either, just like it isn’t the answer for all those pop bottles. Farms use miles of the stuff every year. Not only is a big pile of old plastic unsightly, it’s a haven for mosquitoes and can severely compromise groundwater quality. The other burying option, hauling it off to a landfill, is an expensive prospect for the struggling farmer. And that’s if the landfill will even accept gargantuan bundles of plastic. Despite the difficulties, some farmers are finding ways to get their used plastic recycled. One Vermont farmer managed to leverage his plastic company into taking back used product! The nervy arrangement only lasted for a while, though… his is a small farm in an area with few farms nearby. In fact, it’s this few-and-far-between style of life that makes recycling of ag plastics such a challenge in Vermont. How will we organize the collection of these plastics and where should we establish adequate recycle facilities? There are also several Solid Waste Management Districts in Vermont, most notably the Northeast Kingdom facility, that are spearheading recycle projects for agricultural plastics. But these facilities can’t take on such a huge business venture for no return or at a loss. There has to be a market for the recycled material for the project to succeed in the long-term. Picture this rosy version of the future: statewide efforts to help farmers problem solve the gathering of ag plastics in a relatively clean condition; localized collection for transport; necessary equipment at key solid waste management facilities; and, gasp, development of markets for the use of this type of recycled plastic. Who’s up for a little grassroots mobilization? Sylvia Harris is the Agricultural Resource Specialist for the southern Vermont Conservation Districts. Her responsibilities include helping farmers protect groundwater resources (F*A*S Program), assisting in the state’s watershed planning efforts, and advising the agricultural community on accepted agricultural practices (AAP’s). This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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| Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 October 2007 ) |
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