MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Mountain View County and its agricultural service board (ASB) have issued a call for the provincial government to support ongoing efforts to increase the recycling of agriculture plastics.
During the recent regularly scheduled council meeting, councillors reviewed and accepted a letter signed by reeve Bruce Beattie and chairman Brian Rodgers being sent to Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Devin Dreeshen.
“On behalf of our council and our ag service board, we wish to express our support for Cleanfarms and the agriculture plastics recycling group in the effort to establish a permanent program for recycling ag plastics in Alberta,” the letter states.
In the correspondence, the county outlined some of the past and ongoing efforts being made locally in the area of agriculture recycling.
“Since 2007 when our programs started, over 465,000 kilograms of used wire has been recovered from farms and ranches in our county.”
The county has offered farmers an opportunity to deliver ag plastic to the county’s ag department for recycling. Since 2012, more than 160,000 kilograms of plastic twine and 22,680 kilograms of silage wrap have been collected and shipped to processors in Canada and the U.S.
“Unfortunately, this represents a small percentage of the total plastic used on Alberta farms. Alberta farmers have demonstrated their willingness and strong support for environmental stewardship and the recognition of the importance to our customers of an agriculture industry that respect and values sustainable farming practices.”
The call for support of agriculture plastics recycling comes after county council passed an earlier motion urging the minister of Agriculture and Forestry and the minister of Environment and Parks to “coordinate to ensure that sustainability of the agriculture plastics recycling group to allow full realization of the potential of ag plastic recycling in the province with a focus on enhanced responsibility among producers of the products.”
In July, council passed a motion calling on administration to arrange a meeting with Olds College officials to “discuss the possibility of a joint project relative to the recycling for agricultural plastics into a usable product.”
Made up of appointed public members and county councillors, the ASB advises the county and province on agriculture-related issues and concerns.
