Ag plastic recycling is a win for farmers, environment

MANAWA – For several years Wisconsin farmers have benefited from using a variety of plastic products to store and preserve forage. However, disposing of the used plastic posed both economic and environmental problems for the producers.

During a recent meeting of central Wisconsin forage growers, Greg Blonde, Waupaca County Extension agriculture educator, reported that according to a Cornell University study, US agriculture uses approximately 1 billion pounds of plastic each year. “The study also revealed that only about 10 percent of the plastic was being recycled,” he said.

“A couple of years ago, the Wisconsin department of Natural Resources surveyed 1,500 farms, and found was that almost two-thirds were using bunker covers, and more than half were using silo bags and bale wrap,” Blonde noted.

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Ken Notes: Attention media --- Please consider a story on this issue. We still see much ag plastics burned, buried, and in local landfills...