Strabane District Council has united with the Ulster Farmers' Union and Emerald Isle Recycle to run a pilot scheme in the district to encourage the recycling of all types of agricultural plastics through a low cost, on farm collection service.

The scheme, subsidised by Strabane District Council, cuts farm plastic recycling costs to all farmers in the Council area with additional benefits for UFU members. It covers a wide range of material including silage wrap, silo covers, mushroom bags, fertilizer bags and rigid plastic drums.

Malcolm Scott, Chief Technical Officer with Strabane District Council is delighted that farm plastic will now be diverted from landfill recycling rates across all waste streams, thus improving the local environment and ensuring the Strabane area is a clean and healthy place to live, work or visit.

-- Advertisement --

Angus Cuthbert, UFU, said: "The Union is pleased to be part of this pilot scheme, as it will make another positive contribution towards a better countryside, following on from the successful pilot scheme currently running in the Armagh Council area."

Commenting on the pilot scheme launch, Roy Livingstone from Emerald Isle Recycle, said: "With the establishment of our treatment facility for waste farm plastic in Randalstown it enables us to provide a unique service to local councils.

"The collected material will be reprocessed in Northern Ireland providing increased recycling rates to Councils with the added benefit of a further reduction in carbon footprint compared with shipping this material out of the province."

Farmers interested in participating in the scheme should call Emerald Isle Recycle: (028) 94473583 or contact the Ulster Farmers’ Union Strabane office (028) 7188 2542 for further information and a registration form.

(JM)