By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Red Deer, Ponoka and Lacombe counties team up to recycle ag plastics

Apr 10, 2018 | 3:58 PM

A trio of municipalities are now forging ahead with a new pilot program to recycle agricultural plastics.
 
Red Deer County and Ponoka County council have agreed to participate in a program managed by Lacombe County which will facilitate the recycling of large grain bags.
 
Lacombe County council approved the program in February, but was waiting for the others to sign on.
 
“Agricultural plastics have been an issue for a number of years now. We’ve been trying to develop an alternative to keep them out of the landfill,” says Cody McIntosh, Agricultural Services Manager with Red Deer County. “This is a step in the right direction. It’s not the final solution with ag plastics though.”
 
McIntosh says while the County doesn’t have an environmental master plan, they do recognize when it’s the right thing to do in terms of being good environmental stewards.

The initiative will cost around $27,000 with $12,000 coming from Lacombe County.

The grain bags, which currently end up in the landfill or buried, will instead be shipped to a facility near Bassano to be recycled.

The pilot project is expected to last three years with reviews annually.