An agricultural plastics roundup is being held Saturday, July 9 at the Sundre Waste Transfer Station between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., hosted by Mountain View County's agricultural services department and the Mountain View Regional Waste Management Commission.Agricultural producers can dispose of their twine, hay tarps, silage, and poly in an environmentally friendly way, with the prospect of a $100 incentive cheque from MVC, should they recycle significant amounts of farm plastics.ìWe are trying to reduce the amount that ends up in landfills or that gets burned in burning barrels,î said Amber Hines, a sustainable agricultural specialist from MVC.ìBurning plastic releases harmful compounds that can affect human and soil health.îProducers are advised to secure their tarps and poly in 3-by-3-foot bundles for ease of handling, while twine should be dry, free of debris, and packed into clear plastic bags (which can be obtained at the county office or any waste transfer station).Though the one-day event is an extension of the county's incentive program that runs from April to October at the Olds Waste Transfer Station, agricultural plastics are accepted for recycling year-round.Typically, the first 100 Mountain View County residents who bring in 100 kilograms or more of agricultural plastics to recycle receive a $100 incentive cheque.ìThe Agricultural Services Board views this not only as a chance to provide an incentive to producers, but also a chance to promote the recycling services available to producers in the region,î said Jane Fulton, the county's manager of agricultural services.The county has been instrumental in the initiative, said Don Reid, CAO of the MVRWMC.ìThis was an excellent opportunity for us to jump in there and offer to recycle that stuff for them,î said Reid.ìWe don't get a lot of opportunities to help the rural guys out. This shows a little bit of good faith towards what's going on outside the urban gates.îThe farm plastic roundup began in 2007 as a one-day event, and it has since grown into a seven-month incentive program.All waste plastics being recycled must be free of mud, metal, straw, hay, manure, wood, and other debris.The waste commission reserves the right to charge for any plastics deemed unacceptable.
