New project in BromeMissisquoi MRC to manage agricultural waste

AGRIRÉCUP, a non-profit organization that works to cultivate environmental responsibility through management of inorganic agricultural waste (such as twine, tarps, netting and silo bags), has teamed up with Brome-missisquoi MRC and the UPA of Montérégie for a project called the ‘Agricultural Plastics Recovery project in the MRC of BromeMissisquoi’.

The project aims to allow the recuperation and reuse of agricultural plastics in the area.

The project’s partners have agreed to set up sites at their places of business where producers will be able to deposit their plastic waste. These partners are Équipements JLD Laguë in Pike River, BMR building materials in Sutton and the Régie intermunicipale de gestion des matières résiduelles from Brome-missisquoi to Cowansville (R.I.G.M.R.B.M).

The first phase of the project has been completed and involved collecting data on the quantity of agricultural plastics produced by 32 producers in the Brome-missisquoi region and how they dispose of it. The second phase, collection of the plastics, began on July 1 and the project has since recovered 11 tonnes of the agricultural waste. The farmers got collection bags from the three participating sites and the project emphasizes avoiding mixing different

kinds of plastics and making sure what is collected is clean and dry.

Sylvie Dionne-raymond, president of the management committee of residual materials in the MRC Brome-missisquoi explained that it has been several years that the MRC Brome-missisquoi has been looking for solutions to recycle the agricultural plastic of its producers and the AGRIRÉCUP project is exactly what was needed.

She added that alongside being a regional solution, the project also allows for the compiling of statistics to aid in the development of a provincial program.

The collection of plastic is a real need in the territory and AGRIRÉCUP explained that are many different issues associated with the task.

The experience gained in BromeMissisquoi and the other regions that are taking part in the project will lead to a viable long-term program that is convenient for farmers, is of low cost and is beneficial to the environment. The program will eventually be extended across Quebec.

Farmers are engaged and motivated to keep their land and their region in good health, said Director of AGRIRÉCUP in Eastern Canada, Christina Lajeuneese.

“The joint work of the MRC BromeMissisquoi, UPA, AGRIRÉCUP and the partnership with collection sites generates synergies. The information generated by this project will contribute to the establishment of a provincial program for the recycling of agricultural plastics,” she concluded.

The project is a great step for sustainability in the region.