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Recycling Agricultural Plastics in New Jersey The Garden State
Recycling Agricultural Plasticsin New Jersey
The Garden State
Recycling In Cumberland County
The Cumberland County Improvement Authority is the solid waste implementing agency for Cumberland County
Cumberland County has the highest overall recycling rate in New Jersey
Building partnerships with the Agricultural Community
Partnerships and Convenience
Building Partnerships Convenience
South Jersey Location Operations at Solid
Waste Complex Support of Agricultural
Community
Types of Agricultural Plastics
Nursery and Greenhouse Film Mixed Ridged Plastics
Pesticide containers Up to 55 gallon drums (HDPE #2) Bulb crates Food processing buckets
Mulch Film, Drip Tape, Silage Bags, Peat Moss Bags
Nursery pots, cell packs, flats, and plug trays
Nursery and Greenhouse Film
1997 pilot project start with a $25,000 grant from NJ Department of Agriculture
On site single ram baler first year of program Program expanded to partner with local
recycler to bale the material off site
Nursery and Greenhouse Film
In New Jersey the average farm is 81 acres 1 million pounds of nursery and greenhouse film is
used by New Jersey growers Recycling charges in New Jersey are $20 to $25 per
ton This allows both large and small growers to recycle Solid waste haulers can transport the material to the
solid waste complex in roll off containers or growers can transport it on their own without a DEP solid waste registration
This is a year round program
Nursery Film Recycled in New JerseyTonnage collected at CCIA vs. total state-wide
tonnages
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
CCIA
New Jersey
Nursery Film Recycle in New Jersey
Over 4 million pounds of film has been recycled in New Jersey since the program started in 1997
As the value of the recycled material increased -Growers took advantage of more options available to them
2004-2006 – More growers baled and marketed their own material
$0
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
1998-03 2004 2005
Gross Reciepts FromSale of Nursery FilmCollected By TheCCIA
Nursery Film Trends 46 acres of 4 mil film equals one tractor trailer load Increases in the value of plastic film has changed the
recycling landscape 2004-2005 – Growers marketed over 250 tons of material
on their own – Valued up to $35,000 Big Foot Plastic baler Tiger baler Hay baler
Nursery Film Trends
Recycling Costs and Savings Baling costs range between $40 to $60 per ton Transportation and handling charges Disposal rates in New Jersey range from $55 to $100
per ton By recycling growers save on avoided disposal fees
Recycling Markets
Poly America utilizes nursery film into Husky Yard Bags
Bill NealPoly-America(817) 404-7719
Pesticide Container Recycling Partnership with Ag Container Recycling Council
www.acrecycle.org The program evolved from once a year event to monthly collections from May to
November Karen Kritz, New Jersey Department of Agriculture Pesticide license holders receive one core credit from the NJDEP for participating
in the program Participation levels and the volume of containers collected has increased annually since 2002
Mulch Film and Drip Tape
Lessons Learned Markets conditions change Never count on one vendor Export markets – Dirt is a big factor
9,000 acres of mulch film in three South Jersey Counties 1 acre generates 580 pounds of mulch film Year round collection
Mulch Film and Drip Tape
With the best efforts from growers – contamination was still an issue
Growers respond - Over 300 tons collected in 2005-2006 Grant from NJDEP helped cushion the fall
Covered baling costs Purchase of concrete retaining walls Outreach literature Processing equipment
Mulch Film and Drip Tape
2006-2007 program has been modified to recycle drip tape only
Drip tape – Melt index (flow rate) = .2 Density (weight of material relative to water)
Water = 1 Drip tape density = .943 – Material will float (material
has carbon black) Possible Recycling Markets – plastic pipes, slip
sheets (between pallets), blended to make nursery pots
Nursery Pots–Plug Trays–Flats–Cell Packs
Recycling Opportunities NJ Department of Agriculture established a recycling outlet for nursery pots, plastic flats,
trays, and cell packs Recycled directly by the grower How to prepare the material
Keep like plastics segregated on separate pallets Farmers willing to segregate the different types of plastics will receive a preferred price for the
plastic Some plastic recyclers will pick up half or full trailer loads of material or growers can combine
loads with other farmers in the same area The Department of Agriculture maintains an active list of vendors who wish to be included in a
nursery pot recycling program
http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/prog/recycling.htmlSteve WassermanCindarn Recycling
16154 Trenton RoadUpperco, Md. 21155
410-374-2196
Education and Communication is Essential Nursery and Greenhouse Film Bundling
Procedure
Education & Communication is Essential
Brochure and laminated guidelines for recycling agricultural plastic – Spanish translation included
How Can You Get A Program Started?
Farmers are willing to go the distance to recycle Farmers can understand the economics of cost
avoidance Communications and support is critical to your
success Support at the State, County, and Municipal levels Attend County Board of Agriculture meetings Agricultural trade organizations Take advantage of your extension service agents Take advantage of farm related publications
Talk to your farming community about recycling cardboard and metal
Plastics will continue to play a larger role in agricultural operations
Contact Information
Dennis DeMatte, Jr. Phone: 856-825-3700
Cumberland County Improvement Authority Fax: 856-825-8121
2 North High Street Website: www.ccia-net.com
Millville, New Jersey 08332 Email: [email protected]
Karen Kritz Phone: 609-984-2506
NJ Department of Agriculture Fax: 609-341-3212
John Fitch Plaza, PO Box 330 Email: [email protected]
Trenton, NJ 08625-0330
