Agricultural plastics: Pilot scheme investigates viability of collection and recycling of plastic mulch and drip tape

The Queensland horticulture industry is a significant user of a variety of plastic products within its production systems, in particular single use irrigation drip tape and plastic mulch for weed management and product quality, which face ongoing disposal issues.

The Queensland pilot established under the National Non-Packaging Agricultural Plastics Stewardship Scheme aimed to address the issue of the plastic mulch and drip tape supply chain across southern, central, and northern Queensland.

Specifically, the pilot sought to investigate and address the following problems:

• Awareness and knowledge of agricultural plastic recovery and recycling options.

• On-farm retrieval, source separation and contaminant minimisation of irrigation tape and plastic mulch in horticultural production systems.

• Strong support for local and regional recycling of agricultural plastics but limited processor capacity.

• Lack of coordination in collecting and recycling plastic mulch and drip tape across the supply chain.

KEY FINDINGS: QUEENSLAND

Through delivery of the pilot process the project sought to gain an understanding of the types of on-farm retrieval methodologies and plastic quality specifications. On farm assessments enabled the pilot to review and document the cost and time implications of current compared to revised retrieval methods to stress test barriers to adoption of recovering plastic mulch and drip tape on-farm.

The pilot targeted the high-producing vegetable and strawberry regions of Stanthorpe, Sunshine Coast (Wamuran), Bundaberg and Bowen Burdekin.

On-farm retrieval data was collected across multiple sites in a consistent way using a standard Field Data Collection Sheet. The benefit analysis presented a broad range of costings for retrieval and disposal of mixed plastic mulch and drip tape bundles. Of particular concern is the level of organic material contamination being exported off farm.

The project team developed a Standard Operating Practice (SOP) for the retrieval of drip tape and plastic mulch for the purpose of recycling. Due to the variability in equipment used for retrieval of drip tape and plastic mulch, there are significant differences in the quality and format of material supplied to the collection point.

The SOP attempts to address this variance by providing guidance for on-farm retrieval of drip tape which can be effectively recycled.

The SOP will be published and distributed to growers, recyclers, and other industry members to continue to raise awareness of meeting standards during on-farm retrieval of agricultural plastics.

The survey found that growers are willing to participate in a recycling program and undertake separation of drip tape and mulch on-farm however, there are a number of challenges such as time, cost and suitability of current retrieval equipment.

Key findings from the Queensland pilot include:

• Growers are currently ill-equipped to separate drip tape from plastic mulch.

• High volumes of organic material and soil contaminate the used plastic and reduce its potential to be recycled.

• Currently there are no collection points for recycling of plastic mulch, with it all going to landfill.

• Current landfill costs are acceptable with growers willing and able to pay $250-300 per tonne.

• Overall low volumes of retrieved tape in Queensland are not attractive to local recyclers.