Since working in the recycling industry, I have been increasingly shocked that, when it comes to household recycling, we throw all plastic, paper and card, in one, or at a push, two bins. Speaking with colleagues in operations teams, and them explaining the importance of different waste streams being separated to prevent contamination to enable the maximum amount of material can be recycled, and yet as a society, we chuck it all in a couple of bins, was rather shocking. It is not at the fault of the public for this happening, but rather the infrastructures in place not asking this of the British public. It sounds like I am asking to complicate current practices, however, for the sake of a greater percentage of waste being turned back into a useful commodity, it seems like not much to ask.
With agriculture, then, The Green Tractor network requires its customers to do just that. Each waste stream is separated to ensure as much agricultural plastic is recycled and does not end up in landfill. Indeed, across our network, very little of it ends up going to landfill.
Green Tractor works to help farmers, growers, and anyone in the agricultural industry, understand the importance of presenting their waste correctly. It is a little more time-consuming, but at the benefit to the environment, which agriculture is especially connected to, it is a no-brainer!
Below is a brief overview of how all Green Tractor collectors expect waste to be presented. It is not an extensive list, but it gives an idea of how agricultural plastic waste should always be presented. To learn more, please contact a Green Tractor collector, or us at Green Tractor, to find out how you can be a farmer who recycles their plastic The Green Tractor way!
