The Mountain View County agricultural service board has received an update on the county’s new twine collection program and producer survey. The overview came during the board’s recent regularly scheduled meeting in council chambers.
Started in May, the twine collection program has had three collection dates so far, with more than 20 producers participating.
The twine is being collected and placed in a sea-can located outside the county’s agricultural services building near the county office on Highway 2A between Olds and Didsbury.
The producers have so far brought in dozens of bags of clean and dry used twine, members heard.
“The sea-can, donated by Terra Metals, was less than a quarter full after the (recent) collection,” administration said in a briefing note to the board.
The county has prepared an information sheet outlining the requirements for the twine being processed through the program.
It calls for all twine to be free of hay, straw, mud, manure and other debris, and bagged in the clear plastic bags provided free of charge by the county.
The collection site will be accepting twine on July 12, Aug. 16, Sept. 13 and 27, and by appointment in October.
Once collected the twine will be taken off site for recycling, members heard.
Meanwhile, 28 producers have taken part in the county’s recent agricultural plastics survey.
The survey asked for comments on topics such as years of participation in the county’s agricultural plastics recycling program, type of farm operation, types of agricultural plastics used and recycled in a year, time of year the plastic waste was generated, and best practices for getting the plastic waste clean.
“Based on the answers received the results will be compiled, which will provide some information on participation levels, volume of plastics used versus recycled, views towards the program and best practices for collection,” administration said in the briefing note.
Of those surveyed consistent best management practices for twine collection included when removing from bales clean each piece as you go, tie and knot twine together for transport ease, bag it as soon as possible, and keep bagged twine in barn or shed to keep it dry.
“The survey also provided some notable passion for the program. We heard of a producer who would wind the twine into a ball for the collection. We also had a producer bring in a ball of agricultural plastics collected from a cow’s stomach, further highlighting the benefits of removing and recycling twine,” administration said.
In other news, the Agriculture Plastics Recycling Group and Alberta Beef Producers have selected Cleanfarms to operate a three-year pilot program in the province to collect agricultural grain bags and twine for recycling, members heard.
"The first phase of the project is to establish up to 20 collection sites across the province that are intended to be operational by fall 2019," administration said. "Cleanfarms manages the agricultural plastics recycling program in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. As well they manage pesticide and fertilizer jug collection in Alberta and across Canada."
The agricultural service board is made up of county councillors and appointed members of the public at large. It advises the county and province on agricultural issues and concerns.
