Top tips for recycling balewrap 

As part of its ongoing education programme, bpi.agri, manufacturers of leading agricultural films, have put together five top tips for recycling silage stretch wrap.

1. Polythene for collection should be clean, dry and free of other contaminants to reduce transport and processing costs. Please ensure you do not include tyres, metal parts, stones and wood. All these have a major impact on the recycling machinery.
2. Store it carefully – your storage area should be easily accessible to a collection vehicle.
3. Remember to separate the various elements of farm waste into separate groups i.e. bale wrap, net wrap, baler twine, fertiliser bags and plastic containers so that they are not all mixed together.
4. Ensure they are ready for collection either by being baled/tied together or packed into a suitable container like a large polythene bag
5. Ensure you use a registered waste removal company who will dispose of your bale wrap properly. Remember - it is illegal to burn or bury polythene.

And remember your bale wrap doesn’t go to waste – used polythene can be recycled to manufacture damp proof membranes, garden and street furniture, pallets and refuse sacks amongst other things.

bpi.agri has worked alongside its sister  company, bpi.recycled products, to inform farmers and contractors about how to prepare waste plastic for collection. Working together at seminars, shows and balewrapping clinics across the UK, both companies have provided practical advice and demonstrations to customers.

bpi.recycled products is the largest polythene recycler in the UK and has reprocessed the farm plastic waste collected through the Irish IFFPG scheme for several years. Last year the BPI Group invested some £2million at its recycling facility in Dumfries upgrading its wash plant which has doubled its capacity. This new plant has enabled the Dumfries site to process a further 15,000 tonnes per year of agricultural waste plastic taking its total capacity to 30,000 tonnes. The investment was made in response to growing pressure from the agricultural industry for outlets to recycle its waste plastic.