Tip •  2023-07-31

The recycling solution for your farm

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A recent report found close to 62,000 tonnes of ag plastics are used to support agricultural production in Canada annually, with pesticide and fertilizer packaging accounting for 4,761 tonnes per year.

The good news is, long before plastics drew national attention, Canada’s agricultural industry implemented a variety of management and recycling practices for ag plastics like empty pesticide and fertilizer containers. Rather than making their way into landfills, containers are recycled into valuable materials that can be used back on the farm, like farm drainage tile.

This year, Cleanfarms is challenging Canadian agriculture to recycling 100% of plastics used on farms. This includes pesticide and fertilizer containers up to 23L, seed and plastic bags, large tote bags, totes and drums.

Cleanfarms offers world leading programs to recycle empty pesticide and fertilizer containers, among other plastics used on farms, including grain bags, twine, silage film and tarps, netting, bale wrap and maple tubing. The program even takes unwanted pesticides and animal/equine medications for proper disposal. Products collected for disposal are transported to a high temperature incineration facility for safe disposal. 

Click here for more information about details on how and what can be recycled, and where to find your closest collection site.

Unwanted pesticide & livestock/animal medications collections are scheduled every three years, and information about product collection and locations is available here.

Corteva Agriscience is a proud member of Cleanfarms.

Did you know?

Over 230,000 kg of obsolete pesticide and animal health products are collected and safely disposed of each year.

Over 125 million containers and bags returned since the start of the program.

190,000 Canadian farms have access to the Cleanfarm program.