Agricultural Plastics Recycling

At a Responsible Unit Workshop in early 2013, participants were asked how to utilize a $3,500 donation received from the Wisconsin Intercounty Nonprofit Recycling Inc. for a countywide recycling effort.  The main suggestion was to recycle agricultural plastics.

After staff from the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department and UW-Extension Department researched ag plastic recycling programs, collection events were held in October and December 2013.

The Sauk County Board acknowledged the benefits of continuing an ag plastics recycling program, so they included additional funding in the 2014 budget for a recycling program.

In Sauk County there is approximately 26,000 milk cows and each cow uses around eight pounds of plastic per year.

Prior to offering the ag plastic collections, approximately 70 percent of farmers landfilled their plastics and around 17 percent burned their plastics. Plastic that isn’t properly disposed of can create mosquito breeding habitat, clogs water channels, and may litter the countryside. In Wisconsin it is illegal to burn plastics because it emits high levels of pollutants.

There were seven collections held in 2014.  Over 52 tons of plastics were collected and approximately 135 producers participated. Participants from almost 80 percent of the Sauk County townships brought in their ag plastics.

Sauk County is considered a model for others looking into developing their ag plastics recycling programs across the Midwest.

Plastics are recycled into sidewalks, ‘plywood’ boards, decking, tile roofing, fence posts, household and industrial-size garbage bags, etc.

A number of collection events for ag plastics and used waste motor oil are scheduled in 2015 at the Sauk County Highway Shop, 620 STH 136, West Baraboo, and possibly in other locations in the county.

Farmers can drop off their silage bags, bunker covers, net wrap, bale wrap, plastic feed bags, hoop film, and waste oil.  Plastic feed bags and hoop film MUST be kept separate from other plastics being recycled.  Plastic baler twine will not be accepted but can be used to tie loose plastic in to bundles.

The plastics must be as clean and dry as possible to maximize recycling opportunities.  Plastics can be brought to the Highway Shop in a supersack or loose.  Supersacks keep the plastic dry and protected, take up less floor space, and can be easier to handle than loose storage.  Openings can be cut in the supersack’s top to the size needed for easier filling.

Free supersacks are available at the following locations:

Reedsburg Farmer’s Cooperative

300 South Walnut, Reedsburg

United Cooperative

1360 Laukant Street, Reedsburg

United Cooperative

E11145 Hwy. 60, Sauk City

McFarlanes’

780 Carolina Street, Sauk City

Lime Ridge Agri Supply

115 Minor Street, Lime Ridge

Hohl Farm Supply Inc.

W11942 State Road 33, Portage

Blain’s Farm & Fleet

1100 South Boulevard, Baraboo

United Cooperative

E11725A Co. Rd. Z, Prairie du Sac

For more information about this recycling opportunity, contact Education Coordinator/Fiscal Manager Penny Pohle at ppohle@co.sauk.wi.us or 355-4839 or Sauk County Agricultural Agent Katie Pfeiffer at 355-3257 or katie.pfeiffer@ces.uwex.edu.  More information is also available on the Sauk County website at:  https://www.co.sauk.wi.us/cpz/ag-plastics-recycling