Farmers have an opportunity now to recycle their silage plastic, netting and twine, with bring centres open in different locations around the country.

The Irish Farm Film Producer Group Ltd (IFFPG) is a Government-licensed recycling compliance scheme, responsible for providing an efficient and cost-effective farm plastics recycling service to farmers nationwide.

The times and venues are advertised in the Irish Farmers Journal weekly.

The sites include marts, co-operatives and GAA pitches. At these sites, IFFPG contractors provide weighing facilities and farmers are charged a weight-based fee of €15 per 0.5t (approximately 250 wraps, three covers) of silage cover/wrap.

Charges for the recycling service vary, depending on whether you have a six-digit label code, with the charge increasing to €85 without this code.

The code shows proof of purchase from an IFFPG plastic producer member and is given to the farmer when he purchases the wrap.

The bring-centres also accommodate other categories of used farm plastics through IFFPG’s sister company Farm Plastics Ltd.

Plastics such as net wrap, small and large fertiliser bags, meal bags and drums are covered.

All these other categories can be brought to the centres. They should be segregated in bulk fertiliser bags, with the liners removed. Disposal cost is €15 per bag.

The IFFPG is encouraging farmers to bring dry and clean plastic, because this should reduce costs for the farmer and themselves.

Because you are paying by weight, it makes sense to reduce the moisture on the plastic that can add to the weight and, in turn, your costs.

A number of different consumer-related products are created from recycled plastic, such as refuse sacks, silage wrap, building materials, radon barriers, wheelie bins, etc.

Remember, it is illegal to bury or burn plastic and also that farm plastics are banned from landfill.