Farm waste

This page contains information on options for the recycling/disposal of old and unwanted farm chemicals, plastic chemical containers, and bale wrap and other farm plastics.

For other information on sound environmental farming practices, click on the link below:

Farmers' Guide to the Regional Plans

Farm chemicals

Agrecovery Chemicals is a safe and simple national collection and disposal system for unwanted and expired chemicals in agriculture. Users can register either via www.agrecovery.co.nz or by calling 0800 AGRECOVERY (247 326) and provide information about the type and quantity of chemical they wish to dispose of.

Chemicals are classified into Group 1 and Group 2.

Collection and disposal of Group 1 chemicals is free (costs are covered within the levy that brand owners collect and pay the Agrecovery Foundation as part of the Agrecovery Container programme). Collection fees and some disposal costs for Group 2 chemicals are met by the User.

Payment is required prior to collection and disposal.

When a threshold amount of chemical is registered in a region, plans for a collection event at an appropriate and safe site will be confirmed by the programme managers. Users who have made bookings will be informed of the date and location of the collection event, and their appointment time. In some cases, the chemicals may be picked up from the user's property.

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Chemical containers

Agrecovery also provides a recovery solution for waste plastic agricultural containers that are Agrecovery branded.

Farm plastic is a persistent and growing problem for farmers and growers throughout New Zealand. Agrecovery will enable farmers and growers to dispose of their plastic chemical containers in a responsible way.

Agrecovery collection sites have been established at:

• Okato: Coastal Wrapping Ltd, 122 Stent Road. Service hours, 8am-5pm, Monday to Friday.
• Hawera: Elders, 40 Scott Street, ph 06 278 7029. Service hours: 1pm-4pm, Monday to Friday.
• Stratford: Rick Coplestone Agrispray, 43 Cloten Road, Stratford, ph 06 762 2627. Service hours: 1pm-4pm on Fridays.
• Waitara: Transfer Station, Norman Street. Service hours: 1pm-4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

To find out more about the programme, including which companies are currently part of the scheme, read the newsletter or go to the Agrecovery website (see links below).

Agrecovery promotion - Rinse Return Reward$

Win one of 10 $500 vouchers to spend with your preferred rural supplier. Simply recycle your eligible plastic containers with Agrecovery during March and April 2012. Click on the link for more information.

Rinse Return Reward$

Plasback (the recycling scheme operated through Agpac) also recycles chemical containers, along with woven polypropylene feed, seed and fertiliser bags, and 100-litre and 200-litre drums. For more information, click on the "Plasback recycling brochure" link below

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Silage wrap and other farm plastics

A number of Taranaki contractors are involved in the Plasback scheme (operated by Agpac) to collect plastic farm waste. Containers are provided to collect the plastic waste, especially bale wrap. Farmers can buy a bin ($530 + GST) and liners ($15 + GST), then either drop off the full liner ($20 + GST charge) or arrange to have it collected ($40 + GST). For more information contact:

• Ken Moratti (Inglewood 06 756 8066, 027 443 4858)
• Mark Hinton (Stratford 06 765 6668)
• Michael Silson (Kaponga 06 764 6222)

Egmont Refuse at 19 Scott St, Hawera, is accepting silage wrap for a nominal charge. It needs to be contained, for example in urea bags (which also helps prevent further contamination), and should be as clean as possible. So it needs a good shake before putting it in the bags.

Egmont Refuse will also accept 20L and 200L plastic containers for no charge. No motor oil containers please

For more details, call Raymond Buckland on 06 278 6170.

Another option is the Agrecovery Wrap Programme.

Agrecovery's wrap recycling bags come in two sizes. The smallest, taking 12 wraps, costs $60 for five. The largest takes 85 wraps and costs $60 for one. The bags can be purchased through the Agrecovery website or through Allied Farmers, Farmlands, PGG Wrightson or Elder. Farmers “log” their collection requirements with Agrecovery via the web, by calling a freephone number or by email. When there is sufficient material in a particular area, collection will be organised.

Bins for the bags are also available, either for outright purchase or on a "lease to buy" arrangement.

For more details, call Agrecovery on 0800 247 326 or check out the website.

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