MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Mountain View County will be taking part in an agricultural plastic recycling pilot project, councillors decided at the Nov. 6 council meeting.
The county will enter into an agreement with Cleanfarms to become one of up to 20 collection sites in the province under the Alberta Ag-Plastics: Recycle It program through the provincial Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group.
The three-year pilot project will see agricultural grain bags and twine collected for recycling.
The first phase of the project is to establish collection sites across the province.
In order to participate in the program, the county is required to accept twine and grain bags from any producer in Alberta as long as it meets the requirements of the program relative to contamination and storage, director of legislative services Chris Atchison said in a briefing note to council.
“Administration is supportive of entering into the agreement with Cleanfarms to participate as a pilot collection site as the partnership will lower operations costs, greater collaboration with neighbouring municipalities, potential increased marketability of recycled materials and no decreased service level for county residents,” the note stated.
“It is not currently expected that a large number of residents from other municipalities will utilize the collection site (located at the ag shop near the office). However these statistics will be tracked as the program progresses.”
In order to participate in the program, the county is required to accept twine and grain bags from any producer in the province as long as it meets the requirements of the program relative to contamination and storage, council heard.
Plastics not accepted under the program include net wrap, hay tarps, feedbags, totes, and silage bags and wrap.
“Cleanfarms will be providing the collection bags for twine, and promotion and educational information describing how materials should be prepared. They are wanting to ensure the bags and materials are distributed to producers who are interested in participating,” he said.
