Cleanfarms, working in collaboration with the Fraser Valley Regional District, has announced the creation of a five-year pilot program (2025-2029) to support farmers in the Fraser Valley in recycling bale wrap and silage plastics.
It aims to reduce ag plastic waste while improving on-farm recycling efficiency.
This pilot builds on experience from similar pilots in Northern B.C. and expands on the work of farmers in Agassiz, who have been recycling plastics for several years thanks to logistical support from Cleanfarms and financial support from the Dairy Farmers of Canada.
“B.C. farmers know taking care of the land and environment is a key part of preserving our food security, and minimizing production waste and maximizing recycling helps everyone,” stated Lana Popham, B.C.’s Minister of Agriculture and Food. “This pilot program will help plastics used on-farm end up where they should, the recycling depot, and also help our farmers continue to put food on our tables through sustainable practices and food production.”
On-farm compactors will be used to densify plastics before transport to end markets in this pilot. To qualify to receive a compactor, you must have an environmental farm plan, and provide some business information. Cleanfarms is hosting a demonstration day in Agassiz on June 17 where farmers can test different compactors and learn about how to participate in this pilot project. Farmers will store baled plastics on their farms and drop-off events will be held twice per year.
Cleanfarms stated that they are launching this pilot to develop sustainable long-term solutions relevant to BC agriculture. Cleanfarms said they hope the pilot provides valuable education to inform programming for farmers across the Fraser Valley and the province.
“Our producers are always looking for ways to take better care of the land,” stated Heath MacDonald, the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “Programs like this will help farmers in the Fraser Valley make their operations more sustainable and protect their livelihoods and landscapes for generations to come."
Good news for Fraser Valley farmers! Cleanfarms launches a 5-year pilot (2025-2029) with @FraserValleyRD and @BCGovNews (Ministry of Agriculture and Food) for bale wrap & silage plastics recycling in the region.
— Cleanfarms Inc. (@Cleanfarms) May 29, 2025
Details: https://t.co/9rfiMORA7k#AgRecycling #BCAg #BCrecycling pic.twitter.com/WA5Aid1SJI
“The FVRD is proud to be involved in the new five-year pilot program of collecting and recycling used agricultural plastic,” stated Patricia Ross, FVRD Board Chair. “The collaboration with Cleanfarms is creating an opportunity with practical solutions to help farmers reduce their environmental footprint in the region,” she said.
Items that can be used in the compactor include:
- Silage bags/silo bags/tubes
- Silage tarps/bunker cover
- Plastic stretch bale wrap for silage and hay bales (individual or continuous wrap)
Items to be kept out of the compactor include:
- Construction/camping tarps
- All other plastics and recyclables
Collected bale wrap and silage plastic are transported to recycling facilities, where they are shredded, washed, and then converted into plastic pellets. The pellets are then used to manufacture new plastic products such as plastic bags, plastic dimensional lumber, or plastic agricultural fence posts.
According to Cleanfarms, the compactor is used because plastics that are collected loose take up a large amount of space, are time consuming and difficult to handle with equipment and they weigh very little – which is inefficient for transportation to a recycling facility.
In order to prepare silage plastic for the compactor, one must shake, fold and then store to densify. For bale wrap, users are asked to cut, shake and store before placing in the compactor. In both situations it is recommended to lay the pieces flat and evenly before compaction.
For more information on how to participate in this pilot, visit cleanfarms.ca/programs-at-a-glance/bc-programs-events or contact Carly Fraser at fraserc@cleanfarms.ca.