Every year for the past 32 years, Cleanfarms calculates the rolling three-year average recycling rate of agricultural pesticide and fertilizer containers that are 23L and smaller.

The great news is that the 2020 recycling calculated rate shows another major surge in recycling these containers in 2020 at 76% compared to 71% in 2019. This sets an all-time record for recycling empty ag plastic jugs in Canada.

“Canadian farmers deserve huge credit for these unparalleled results,” said Cleanfarms Executive Director Barry Friesen. “They are bringing back rinsed, empty containers in increasing numbers year over year, which means more of these ag plastic jugs are getting recycled into new products in a circular economy.”.

In total, farmers returned more than 5.5 million pesticide and fertilizer jugs 23L and smaller in 2020. Placed end to end, that number of containers collected in one year would stretch from Montreal, Quebec to Brandon, Manitoba.

In addition to farmers, Cleanfarms attributes the increased recycling rate to the more than 1,200 ag-retail and municipal operations across the country that run recycling collection sites and that work with farmers to get the empty, rinsed containers back.

Cleanfarms is also developing an incentive programs like offering free recycling collection bags that make it easier for farmers to collect, store and transport empty containers.

Click here to read the full story.