An annual report from Cleanfarms shows improving rates of agricultural plastic recycling in Canada. | AgriRECUP/Shutterstock
Cleanfarms, a Canadian agricultural recycling stewardship group, recovered and recycled over 22 million pounds of agricultural plastics in 2024, according to a recently released annual report outlining the organization’s achievements in the last year.
Agricultural plastics recovered include twine, pesticide containers and film such as silage covers and grain bags.
Cleanfarms reported it recycled 3.9 million pounds of grain bags as the producer responsibility organization for Quebec’s EPR program. The program was launched last year in response to Quebec’s EPR laws for agricultural plastics that went into effect in 2023.
Since 2023, Cleanfarms helped recycle 96,600 units of pesticide and fertilizer containers, surpassing its record high from last year by 8%. According to the report, Cleanfarms also recycled 28% more maple tubing used in syrup production.
In the report, Cleanfarms estimated in 2024, recycling agricultural containers and grain bags prevented the equivalent of over 20 million pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
The report detailed Cleanfarms’s expansions to its recycling pickup programs in Western Canada. With these programs, Cleanfarms collects recyclables from participating farms to deliver to MRFs. Cleanfarms also provides resources for farmers to find nearby recycling options.
“The Cleanfarms 2024 Annual Report is a tribute to the farmers and program partners and collection sites who have helped us evolve from a single-container recovery program to a national leader in agricultural recycling,” Executive Director Barry Friesen said in a press release. “It’s about building programs that farmers need, and that they trust and use, day by day, year over year.”
This year, Cleanfarms also launched the Great Twine Round-Up, a program to promote circular farming practices to children in Alberta. The program asks participants to collect bags of twine to be recycled, with a chance to win cash prizes.