Environment

Every year Northland farms use more than 400 tonnes of plastic silage bale wrap. How you dispose of the wrap can be a problem, but there is now a solution – the Northland Silage Wrap Collection.

What’s the problem?

Plastic silage wrap is a convenient way of storing, transporting and feeding out silage. Its use has also reduced the amount of leachate from traditional silage pits and stacks.

 Silage wrap is an environmental hazard causing pollution and can pose a health risk to animals.

However, all that non-biodegradable wrap has to be disposed of once the bale is fed out. Until now the only methods of doing that have been burning, burying it or taking it to your local transfer station.

Silage wrap is a hazard as it can blow around farms causing visual and environmental pollution and problems and can pose a health risk if eaten by animals (especially cows) leading to sickness or death.

It can also become caught up in machinery and equipment, or shredded, which makes it easier to blow away. Bale wrap often blows into waterways, roadsides and neighbouring property. It not only looks bad, there’s also a potential for wrap to block streams and waterways, posing a threat to wildlife.

Wrap that is buried often works its way back to the surface making pasture unsuitable for grazing.

Burning silage wrap gives off dense black smoke and toxic gases such as formaldehyde and acrolein which are poisonous to humans and animals.

A new solution – recover and recycle

By recycling, you no longer have to bury or burn bale wrap.

In the past, used bale wrap has been hard to recover and recycle. The major issues have been the high levels of contamination and the difficulty of collecting bulky material from spread-out rural areas. When it’s left lying in the paddock, used wrap also becomes contaminated with mud and water. Heavy objects such as rocks or tyres are often used to stop the wrap blowing away and these too can become caught up in the wrap contaminating it even further and making it unsuitable for recycling.

However, the Northland Regional Council, the Community Business and Environment Centre (CBEC) and Fonterra are working collectively with Plasback and now have a system for collecting and recycling of silage wrap in the Northland region.

How does it work?

Step 1: Bin and liner collection

The heavy duty plastic bin and a full plastic recyclable liner.

A heavy duty plastic bin with a secure lid and releasable centre and plastic recyclable liner system has been created to overcome the difficulties of storing and collecting used wrap. It reduces contamination by keeping the wrap in a secure area away from contaminants and prevents it from blowing away. Farmers who participate in this scheme will need to purchase bin liners (these are compulsory) and an optional bin to hold the liner.  All liners and storage bins are purchased through farm supply stores (RD1, Wrightson and Farmlands).

Each bin liner costs $15 plus GST. The liners are also recycled as they are the same type of plastic as the silage wrap. Plasback supplies storage bins at a cost of $530 plus GST, however, farmers can also make their own bins (details below).

The Plasback bins are designed for use with the liners. They clip together and have a lid to make them weatherproof. Once the liner is full, remove the lid, undo the bin and move it away from the liner.

To recycle silage wrap:

• Each farmer must register with CBEC Eco Solutions (refer to contact details) and purchase a bin liner and optional storage bin
• Set up the liner with a bin or similar structure.
• Fill the liner daily to avoid contamination of wrap.
• Pack the liner tightly – each liner is designed to hold 150 bale wrappers.
• When the liner is full, tie it off and attach an identification tag*

*Note: All bagged material is tagged for farmer identification purposes. Bales with unacceptable contamination will be returned at the owner’s expense. When a farmer registers for the programme, CBEC will supply advice on how to deal with contamination and what levels are acceptable.

Step 2: Prepare for collection

• Set the liners aside ready for collection
• Store in an area with safe access and hard standing
• Beware of overhanging wires and trees

Collections information

Silage wrap collections will occur twice a year in the Northland Region at $40 per full liner:

1. Beginning of winter
2. End of winter

Alternatively you can drop of at the following sites: (Please note services & charges may vary across the region).

Drop off points:

Far North Region

• Kaitaia Resource Recovery Centre - $20 per full liner
• Call 0800 REWRAP (0800 739 727) prior to drop off  

Download an application form (90 KB)   

Applications to be faxed to 09 438 8710 or posted to:

CBEC Eco Solutions,
3 Bank Street,
Whangarei. 

Benefits of using the silage wrap collection

By recycling, you no longer have to bury or burn your bale wrap. This will help reduce your farm waste, air pollution and rubbish costs.

Recycling on farms isn’t a new thing. Recycling bale wrap and other items such as plastic agrichemical containers will promote environmental viability of the farming sector. This will add value to our farming industry and promote New Zealand’s commitment to producing quality farm products with environmentally sound farm management procedures.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make my own storage bin?

Yes, as long as it’s strong, has a lid and is of the same size and dimensions as the Plasback bin. An alternative on-farm wrap storage option is for Fonterra to supply a 1.5 m³ wool fadge (bale).

Wrap can be placed in the storage bin liner straight after stock feeding. It needs to be kept away from weather and other farm material to stop further contamination before collection and recycling. The bin can store 100 to 150 silage wraps. 

How much does it cost?

The silage wrap collection charges $40 per 1.5m³ for a farm pick-up or $20 per 1.5m³ if dropped off at the Kaitaia Transfer Station or at Whangarei ReSort Centre (Paper Reclaim).

• Plasback storage bin and lid $530 + GST
• Storage bin liner $15 + GST
• Each liner holds approximately 150 wraps
• Collection - $40 per bale collected
• Drop off - $20 per bale delivered

What happens to the wrap once it is collected?

Wrap will be recycled into plastic granules, which are turned back into plastic wrap-holding containers. Each liner is recycled with the silage wrap as it is the same plastic material.

What if I don’t use 150 bales per year?

If you don’t use 150 bales annually then you can work with neighbours or local farms to see if you can use their bin. Alternatively, contact 0800 REWRAP (0800 739 727) for further information.

Further information

See the Plasback brochure for details on which other farm plastics can be collected for recycling i.e. chemical containers, dairy detergent drums, feed and seed bags.

Download the Plasback recycled plastics brochure (950 KB) 

 Visit the Plasback website 

• Call 0800 REWRAP (0800 739 727)
• CBEC Eco Solutions Kaitaia: 09 408 1092
• CBEC Eco Solutions Whangarei: 09 438 8710