Wisconsin dairy and livestock farms are using silo bags, bunkers and wrapped bales at a dramatically increased rate over the last decade. Each of these tools relies on low-density polyethylene, a plastic film that provides a low-cost method for storing high-quality forages. It’s estimated that over 55 million pounds of LDPE thermoplastic is sold annually to Wisconsin farmers. But although Ag plastics are increasingly popular, their disposal has become a big issue on many farms.

A statewide survey conducted by University of Wisconsin-Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in 2015 reported that about two-thirds of farmers use landfills for disposing of their used Ag plastic. The second most common method of disposal is burning, at 30 percent, with 10 percent of respondents reporting they recycle the plastic. More than 1,500 farms and greenhouses around Wisconsin participated in the survey.

Burning Ag plastic is illegal, and releases toxic and potentially cancer-causing chemicals such as dioxins and furans into the air. These toxins can be inhaled by humans and animals, and are deposited in soil and surface water. Residue from burning can also contaminate the soil and groundwater and enter the human food chain through crops and livestock. Moreover, unburned portions of plastic become litter on the ground, with larger piles creating breeding grounds and habitat for mosquitoes.

The survey indicates that 85 percent of farmers are willing to haul their plastic to a collection site for recycling. Past Ag plastic collection programs in Green County have confirmed that many farmers will drive up to 30 miles to recycle their plastic if there is no disposal charge. Green County farmers have a lot of used Ag plastic on their lands, and most prefer to see it recycled versus burning it or paying up to $1,500 per year to dispose of it in landfills.

So why do Wisconsin farmers not recycle more Ag plastic?

The major challenge in recycling Ag plastic is transporting it from the farm to a collection facility for baling. Green County started recycling Ag plastics in 2014 by having spring and fall collections during which farmers could dispose of their used Ag plastic free of charge by hauling it to a local landfill. Over the past two years the county has collected more than 650,000 pounds of used Ag plastic and recently expanded its collection program to accept this type of waste every Wednesday from any area farmers willing to haul it to the collection facility.

Green County accepts only No. 4 plastic (from the resin identification code) from silo bags, bunker covers, greenhouse covers, drip tape and bale wraps. Plastic twine, mesh bale wraps, plastic jugs, bunker covers with scrim nylon and all other types of plastic containers are not recyclable through this program.

Green County’s landfill department bales the used Ag plastic into 1-ton parcels and sends them to a facility in Arkansas, where the material is cleaned, processed and recycled into trash can liners and other products.

A New Pilot Program

An even more potentially effective option for Ag plastic disposal is being rolled out in Wisconsin this summer. Mark Mayer, Green County’s UW-Extension Agriculture Agent, worked on a pilot program with Revolution Plastics in 2015 to place free dumpsters on 88 farms in Wisconsin and Illinois specifically for storing these types of plastic until the program picked it up for free. Due to the pilot’s success in Green County, Revolution Plastics is now expanding the free program to several hundred more farmers in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa in 2016.

This program certainly has the makings of being a win-win for everyone involved. It will enable farmers to dispose of their used Ag plastic at no cost and reduce the amount of plastic going to landfills and being illegally burned, while also recycling the unwanted material into new products.

The number of cows and farm size are no longer a limiting factor to participate in the program. If a farm generates enough Ag plastic film to fill an 8-cubic yard dumpster every six weeks, they will qualify to be added to the program. Herds as small as 60 milk cows using both silage bags and bales wraps can easily meet this criteria.

The final opportunity to secure a free dumpster for Green County area farms will occur in late July. Revolution Plastics will make its final delivery of free dumpsters available to area farmers from 8:00 a.m.-Noon, on Monday, July 25. The dumpsters will be distributed from a lot located at 207 17th Street, Brodhead.

Farmers interested in enrolling in the program that provides a free dumpster and free on-farm pick up can do so by calling the Revolution Plastics toll free number at 844-490-7873. They also have the option registering on their web site at: http://www.revolutionplastics.com prior to July 25th.

Farmers willing to pick up their dumpsters will be given first priority on this last shipment. However, they will also provide delivery of the dumpsters to farms if needed. Only #4 Ag plastic from silo bags, bunker covers, bale wraps from farms can be accepted through this program.

Contact Mark Mayer, UW-Extension Agriculture Agent, for more information at (608) 328-9440 or email mark.mayer@ces.uwex.edu.