Government to implement a national rural recycling scheme for farm plastics
The Government has approved the drafting of regulations to support a nationwide rural recycling scheme covering agrichemicals and plastic farm waste.
- Read farm plastics recycling scheme gets green light [Beehive]
The industry-led initiative will bring the existing Agrecovery and Plasback programmes into a single national rural recycling system, which provides free-to-use services that are simpler and more accessible for all users of in-scope agrichemicals and farm plastics.
The regulations will build on the voluntary schemes that have been operating for nearly 20 years, to establish a nationally consistent product stewardship scheme for agrichemicals, their containers and farm plastics.
This will help farmers and growers cut waste and reduce environmental impact, enabling productivity.
The programme will also establish a take-back network.
Along with farmers and growers, industries such as forestry, manufacturing, hospitality, tourism – as well as local authorities and households – will also have access to national take-back services for the in-scope products.
Households and the take-back service
Households needing safe disposal options for pest and weed control product containers can also use the take-back service.
The move follows a consultation on the regulations to support the rural recycling scheme, which took place earlier this year.