Recycling Agricultural Plastics: Best Management Practices to Keep Plastic Clean Enough to Recycle

Abstract

Best management guidelines for handling agricultural plastics in preparation for recycling are now available as a full color, 8.5" x 14", poster. One version is targeted to dairy and livestock producers who use ag plastics primarily to wrap and cover forage. Another version is for horticultural growers, who use plastic as mulch film, irrigation drip tape, greenhouse and hoophouse covers, and more. The reverse side of the posters includes a set of standards and criteria for assessing the quality of used agricultural plastics as well as contact information for ag plastics recycling efforts in the Northeast US. The poster and guidelines were developed by the Recycling Ag Plastics Project (RAPP), a Cornell-based initiative, and were printed in collaboration with the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA). Posters can be downloaded and freely distributed. In NYS, Extension and SWCD offices can contact RAPP to request bulk quantities for distribution to farmers and related agribusinesses in their areas (<envrisk@cornell.edu>). Other inquiries about hard copies should be directed to NEWMOA: <agplastics@newmoa.org>.