State official urges growers to recycle plastic film

N.J. Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher is encouraging all ag operations to recycle the plastic used in their businesses. This is the 14th year for the state’s year-round nursery and greenhouse film recycling program.
“There are many benefits to keeping these items out of the solid waste stream,” Fisher said. “They provide a source for manufacturers to make plastic products using recycling content, saving natural resources, less landfill space is used and participating growers can save more than 40% on the tipping fees assessed if the materials were disposed of in a landfill.”
Since the program was initiated in 1997, New Jersey growers have recycled more than 7 million pounds of used film. During 2009, 935,920 pounds of film were recycled. This was a 49% increase over 2008 and the largest volume of nursery and greenhouse film recycled in a single year since the program was started.
Both white and clear nursery film and clear multi-season (2-, 3- and 4-year) greenhouse covers can be recycled. Film must be free of lathing, staples and saran. Loads containing other ag plastics, such as bags, mulch film, shrink film, stretch film, drip irrigation or ground cover film, won’t be accepted at the collection sites.
Vehicles used to transport the used film intra or interstate are not required to be licensed by the N.J. Dept. of Environmental Protection as long as the film is transported directly to one of the 2 collection sites.